Bengali labourers begin homeward journey
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 14 2009: Following death of four compatriots out of six shot by unidentified gunmen inside Central Agricultural University campus, Bengali labourers have started leaving Manipur.

In the meantime, a police officer from West Bengal visited the migrant labourers being housed in relief camps being run by the State Government at Dharamsala and Kalibari here.

Leaving the relief camps, many Bengali labourers joined their relatives and near ones staying at Imphal, before leaving the State.

Refugees line up to get their daily allowance of Rs 60 each from the Govt at their camp

Around 20 Bengali labourers have left Imphal since yesterday, informed a source from the District Administration.

Sanjay Mondal, who was engaged as a labourer in a construction at CAU but presently staying at Dharamsala relief camp said that they could not ask for anything from their contractor Binod Mondal as Binod's elder brother Jaganath Mondal was among the four killed.

Saying that they too would like to go home, Sanjay disclosed their helplessness as they have no money with them.

It would be a great relief if the Government arrange for their homeward journey, he said.

Under instruction from the DGP of West Bengal, Commandant of the State's armed police, S Serapa arrived at Imphal yesterday to take back the four corpses.

But by the time he arrived at Imphal, the four corpses had been already taken away by air, informed a top police official.

Later interacting with the migrant labourers putting up at relief camps, Commandant Serepa assured the labourers that he would talk with the State Government to take up adequate security measures.

He also met IG (L&O-III) V Zathang, now in charge of DGP.

During the meeting, Zathang apprised the Commandant about the enhanced security measures taken up by the State Government to avert any further untoward incident to migrant labourers.

Zathang also informed Serepa about the State police's efforts to nab those involved in targeting migrant labourers.

To the IG's appeal to take up security measures for Manipuris staying in West Bengal as well as in educational institutions, the Commandant assured necessary protection for Manipuris staying in West Bengal.

On the other hand, the State Government has been looking after the migrant workers now housed in relief camps with daily allocation of Rs 60 per head, added the source.