Team Herald
MARGAO: A video of policemen beating up the migrants, who in retaliation pelted stones at the men-in-khaki at Rawanfond, went viral on social media with the police action drawing flak.
The incident took place on Monday evening when the UP-based family was waiting to board a train and after failing to do so, they returned to Rawanfond junction only to be asked by the police to go away. However, a family member fell unconscious and started bleeding. The police chose to ignore the ailing man and started to lathi-charge the migrants. The angry migrants abused the police for their alleged “insensitive” attitude and in retaliation, pelted stones at the men-in-khaki. Even the elderly migrant women too were not spared. Giving accounts of the episode, eyewitnesses claimed that children were also injured in the lathi-charge.
South Goa SP Arvind Gawas informed that the lathi-charge by police was in retaliation. However, the migrants, who came to the Margao Railway Station from Goa Velha in KTC buses, a couple of days ago, claimed that the police have beaten them and chased them away for no reason.
“The police have been doing a great job, but many times have gone overboard without understanding that the law is for humans and humans are not for law. I have seen people crying for food. And now, they are being assaulted,” said Chandrakant Patil from Margao.
Margao MLA Digambar Kamat said, “The least expected by these hardworking migrant workers is the police lathi-charge, mental and financial torture and helplessness due to government lethargy. I urge the Chief Minister to intervene immediately and provide shelter to these labourers, who are now walking without any clue to their homes in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh till necessary travel arrangements are made.”
