Bathinda: Desperate to return to their home states, a group of over 500 stranded migrant workers allegedly pelted stones at the vehicle of Bathinda Police near AIIMS on the Dabwali road on Saturday.
Initially, the police tried to control the mob that had gathered in the area to demand a return passage to their home states amid the COVID-19 lockdown.
As per reports, after several failed attempts to convince the migrants and bring the situation under control, the cops returned from the area. While they were returning the angry mob hurled stones at the cops, who were running to find an escape from the area.
"They claimed that they wanted to go back home, but the construction company officials were delaying it," said police.
"Initially they promised that food and essentials will be provided to us. They gave us for 2-3 days but now we are helpless and we want to return home. The officials at the company have been promising since the lockdown has been imposed but no one is arranging for our return," said a migrant worker.
Another worker Roop Chand from Haryana said, "We have not received salaries for the last four months. It has become difficult for us to make ends meet as essential items are being sold at exorbitant rates."
They said 400 to 500 workers were here from West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
The angry mob not only resorted to stone-pelting but also staged a protest in the area demanding food and transportation.
Also read: Migrant couple returning home in auto killed in accident in Uttar Pradesh
