NEFIS condemns firing on tea-workers in Assam

IMPHAL | Dec 15

North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) has condemned the firing of bullets on tea-garden workers in Numaligarh area of Golaghat district, Assam.

A release said that on December 12, the said workers who had been denied their wages went to the bungalow of the tea-garden owners, Samir and Sudhir Roy, to press for their pending payments.

However, the owner became infuriated at the workers’ protest, and on the persistent demand for clearance of their dues, they fired upon them, grievously injuring at least 20 workers, it added.

The Assam government under BJP has not only failed to condemn the incident but has posted CRPF personnel in anticipation of protests that the workers may organise, the release maintained.

Further, it should be known that the tea-workers work under highly oppressive conditions and have historically been exploited and coerced to work, in active collusion with the state, the release continued.

NEFIS condemned the state government’s apathetic attitude towards the plight of tea-workers and demands an immediate probe to look into their working conditions in Assam. It also demands that the victims’ families be provided adequate compensation and action should be taken against the officials of labour department for allowing such illegal work-relationship to function unhampered, the release added.

IMPHAL | Dec 15

North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) has condemned the firing of bullets on tea-garden workers in Numaligarh area of Golaghat district, Assam.

A release said that on December 12, the said workers who had been denied their wages went to the bungalow of the tea-garden owners, Samir and Sudhir Roy, to press for their pending payments.

However, the owner became infuriated at the workers’ protest, and on the persistent demand for clearance of their dues, they fired upon them, grievously injuring at least 20 workers, it added.

The Assam government under BJP has not only failed to condemn the incident but has posted CRPF personnel in anticipation of protests that the workers may organise, the release maintained.

Further, it should be known that the tea-workers work under highly oppressive conditions and have historically been exploited and coerced to work, in active collusion with the state, the release continued.

NEFIS condemned the state government’s apathetic attitude towards the plight of tea-workers and demands an immediate probe to look into their working conditions in Assam. It also demands that the victims’ families be provided adequate compensation and action should be taken against the officials of labour department for allowing such illegal work-relationship to function unhampered, the release added.

Read more / Original news source: http://www.ifp.co.in/item/5867-nefis-condemns-firing-on-tea-workers-in-assam