Contractors may be behind migrant workers’ stir: police

Eight middlemen under the scanner for Kottayam protest

31/03/2020, G. ANAND,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Patient hearing: Police personnel trying to reassure the migrant workers protesting in Kottayam on Sunday.PTI-

Sunday’s protest by migrant workers at Payippad in Kottayam is unlikely to be the consequence of a conspiracy by any political party or religious group, according to the Kerala police. A preliminary probe suggests that some labour contractors could have instigated the workers to protest and seek transport facilities to return to their home States.

The police say the protest occurred a few days after the taluk authorities summoned the contractors and advised them to help the migrants employed by them.

“They may have felt it is a losing proposition to spend on the wages, stay and food of the labourers during the lockdown,” a senior police officer told The Hindu. They could have tried to shrug off their accountability by instigating them to return home.

The police said eight middlemen were under scanner. Investigators said the mass movement of migrants from New Delhi in government-arranged buses may have also stoked the stir at Payippad.

Youth Cong. men held

In Malappuram, the police arrested two Youth Congress workers for allegedly spreading false information that transport facility had been arranged for migrant workers to go home.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had alleged that “one or more devious forces” were behind the Payippad episode.

(With inputs from Malappuram)