Migrant workers went on rampage at several places on Uttar Pradesh border after the Yogi Government imposed strict restriction on their movement on foot or by any mode of transport to check road mishaps.
Big crowds of migrants and long queues of vehicles were witnessed at road blocks put up by the authorities to stop the migrants. The arrangements made by the State Government to ferry back the migrants to their State of origin turned out to be inadequate in view of their huge numbers leading to tough time for the local authorities to handle the situation.
Besides, rising temperature also created problems.
There was hardly any water or food for the people stranded for hours on highways. Reports said that at some places, local residents connected rubber pipes to arrange water for the people.
According to reports from Saharanpur, migrant workers in large numbers gathered at Sahranpur-Ambala highway, demanding a special train to return to Bihar. Hundreds of migrants lodged in Radhaswami Satsangh Bhawan quarantine center in Saharanpur came on road with sticks and rods in their hands on early Sunday morning. Alleging that they were forcibly confined without proper food and other basic facilities, the mob broke the glasses of vehicles struck in a blockade due to sealing of State border on Saturday night.
Senior administrative officers were camping at the spot and were trying to convince the protesters that they were trying to arrange some transportation.
Reports further said that migrant labourers in large numbers also gathered in Gazipur at Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border after they were stopped following Government orders. Labourers stranded there claimed that they were now waiting for their turn for the last 48 hours as the Government provided just few buses which failed to meet the requirement.
Migrant workers also blocked Mathura-Agra Highway in Raipura Jat area, demanding that arrangements be made by the Government to send them to their homes in different districts of Uttar Pradesh. Migrants in large numbers continued to walk on Mathura-Agra highway and blocked the highway after the local authorities stopped them following Government orders. They collected garbage, other waste items and piled them up on the highway and set it ablaze along with tyres. The migrants asserted that they have been starving since two-three days but no arrangements has been made for them and now they were even stopped walking to their homes.
The District Magistrate, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and other officials rushed to the spot and tried to calm the migrants. SSP Mathura Gaurav Grover said, “A large number of migrants came together and blocked the highways. After negotiations, provisions for food and transport were arranged and they left in trucks for their respective destinations.”
The incident took place hours after similar protests were seen on the Uttar Pradesh-Madhya Pradesh border in Jhansi. The situation turned violent after police resorted to lathi-charge on the group of migrant workers. In Kanpur also, several kilometers long jam was witnessed at elevated road on Ramadevi crossing leading to chaos.
After the Auraiya road accident on Saturday in which 25 migrants were killed and several injured, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath instructed all field officers to stop migrant workers from unauthorized travelling on the highways. Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Kumar Awasthi has asked people to use the ‘Shramik’ trains facilities by Uttar Pradesh Government instead.
“The Chief Minister has directed all police officers to provide migrants with food and water and do routine checks at the borders. They should be screened and then send to their home in a safe and dignified manner,” he said.
Over 200 buses are positioned at the State borders. Additional arrangements have been made in all the districts of the border, the official said.