West Bengal: Migrant workers who returned from Kashmir demand jobs

138 labourers who went to Jammu and Kashmir to earn a living were bought back to West Bengal after terrorists killed five migrant labourers in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam on October 29. The workers said if the West Bengal Government does not provide them with jobs they would have no option but to return to the Kashmir Valley despite the tense atmosphere. 

'If the Govt gives proper facilities and give us jobs, then we'll stay here'

"We went to Kasmir for Plywood work. We were brought back here after five labourers were killed in Kashmir. If the Government gives us proper facilities to stay and give us jobs, then we will stay here. Else, we have no option but to return to Kashmir to feed ourselves, a labourer said. While another asserted they used to live in fear in the valley and said it is difficult to work in the valley under such circumstances. Another labourer said they were told to return to West Bengal by the Army as it is difficult to provide 12-hour protection. The labourers were bought to Jammu by a police process after which they were bought to Kolkata. The labourers reached Kolkata by Jammu Tawi express. Out of the 148 labourers, five hail from Assam. 

READ | Mamata Banerjee to bring back 131 West Bengal workers from Kashmir

Terrorists kill five migrant labourers 

Terrorists on Tuesday evening killed five labourers from West Bengal at Katrasu in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district. Police sources said the labourers were staying at their rented accommodation when the terrorists barged inside, dragged them out, and then shot them. Five of the labourers succumbed to their injuries. Three more labourers are still missing according to sources. The attack happened on the day a delegation of European Union Parliament was on a visit to the valley, to review the situation after the abrogation of Article 370. 

READ | EC announces dates for West Bengal and Uttarakhand by-polls

Several incidents of violence have been reported against migrant truck drivers and businesspersons. Earlier, a trucker from Udhampur district was killed by terrorists in Anantnag District of Jammu and Kashmir. On October 24, militants killed two non-Kashmiri truck drivers in Shopian district and set their apple-laded vehicles on fire. A Punjab-based apple trader identified as Charanjeet Singh was killed and another injured when terrorists attacked them in the Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir. 

(With ANI inputs)

READ | West Bengal: 70 trapped coal workers of Eastern Coalfields rescued