Migrant labourers pelt stones at cops in Thiruvananthapuram, 2 hurt

A group of 700 migrant workers sheltered in a camp in Thiruvananthapuram staged a protest on Sunday demanding to be sent back to their home states and indulged in stone-pelting, injuring a circle inspector.

Thiruvananthapuram:Two police personnel were injured after migrant labourers allegedly pelted stones at police in Kerala on Sunday.

"Around 700 migrant labourers gathered in Oruvathilkotta demanding arrangements to return home. They pelted stones when police tried to calm them. During the incident, two policemen got injured," police said.

According to the police, the incident happened on Sunday night at Oruvathilkotta near Akkulam wherein around 700 migrant labourers who were working at a construction site here started protest demanding arrangements for their return to native states.

Upon receiving information about the incident, a police team reached to the spot.

As police tried to control the mob, migrant workers pelted stones at the police and Pettah CI Girilal and another policeman sustained injuries.

Later, a larger police force reached the spot and the situation was brought under control. The police held discussion with the migrant workers and assured that their request will be considered.

Similar protests had been reported in the state, including in Kannur and Kozhikode, during the ongoing lockdown with the workers demanding that they be allowed to go home.

Kerala has already sent back 24,088 migrant labourers to their home states by 21 non-stop special ''Shramik'' trains operated by the railways after the Centre gave the nod early this month. They included 10,017 workers in nine trains to Bihar, 5,689 on five trains to Jharkhand and 2,293 in two trains to Uttar Pradesh.

PTI