Hundreds of migrant labourers throng Mangaluru Central Railway Station

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, May 08, 2020:   Hundreds of migrant labourers from north India origin have gathered at the  Mangaluru Central Railway Station believing some reports that the government had arranged a train service to North India.

The workers from Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar and some other States started arriving at the railway station from 8 a.m. onwards only to realise that no train service had been scheduled. They staged a dharana in front of the Railway Station.

Later convinced by officials that it was only a rumour, they returned to different places in the city in KSRTC buses arranged by the district administration.

 

 

 

 

 

Over 700 labourers from Derebail, Suratkal, Nantoor, Kulur and other places  had  arrived by foot  to the railway station following  a social media post providing false information that free train services have been arranged.

It is learnt there was even a heated altercation between the police and the labourers at one juncture. Though Assistant Commissioner Madan Mohan tried to persuade the labourers to return and even assured to make all arrangements for their  well being until train services are arranged, the labourers did not budge.

The railway officials and officials from the district administration, including the Additional Deputy Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner (Law and Order), later convinced them to return.

 

Social activist Vidya Dinaker, who is co-coordinating with government officials to help the migrant workers, said that due to some false information given by one of the builders that trains will be arranged on Friday and hence, the workers rushed to the station at midnight itself.

Police quoted the migrants as saying that they were stuck in the city without jobs, money and adequate food and that they were even willing to walk to their home states if the special trains were not operated immediately.