Kashmiri labourers returning from Punjab sent back despite SDM ‘permission’

Asif Iqbal

Srinagar, Apr 21 (GNS): Hundreds of migrant labourers from Kashmir on way home from Punjab were returned back despite getting approval from authorities.

The development, as per reports, unfolded on Monday night.

A migrant labourer, a resident of Halmatpora village of Kupwara district, wishing not to be named, told GNS over phone from Hosharpur, Punjab, “While the lockdown crisis doesn’t seem to die down soon, we had sent an application to Sub District Magistrate Hosharpur (district in Punjab) to facilitate our return back to our homes in Kashmir.”

“The SDM concerned while taking our concerns into consideration asked us to produce our credentials including Aadhar Card. After proper verification, we were granted permission duly stamped by his (SDM) office, with the condition that we will be arranging the transport on our own,” the labourers said.

We were informed that the “permission”, as per the official direction, would be valid up to Lakhanpur, beyond which it was the sole discretion of J&K admin to allow us or not, he said, adding, “We arranged all the necessary transport and settled our dues with the landlords and left for our homes.

“What shocked us was the approach from a naka party putting up at Mukerian (a city and municipal council of Hoshiarpur). They came in a complete disdain to the SDM’s permission and made us to return back, claiming that they had no information about the movement from the official concerned,” the labourer said.

All the labourers straightaway drove to Police Station Hoshiarpur around 3 am in the night, he said, adding that “we had nowhere to go as everyone had already vacated the rented rooms”.

The agitated labourers asked the SDM (Hoshiarpur) as why he had not informed the authorities in advance. They said there was no proper response to it.

“We hope that in the midst of this crisis, the local administration will look for some rehabilitative measures to ease our sufferings,” the labourer added. (GNS)