Asom Majuri Shramik Union’s (AMSU) District Secretary Dharitri Sarma was released from Silchar Sadaar’s police detainment on May 24, 2022. As in the case of AMSU’s Mrinal Kanti Shome, the union leader was released after over a day of arbitrary hold-up.
Shortly after Shome was released from the Silchar Sadar police station, Sarma was detained in the same place. In both instances, the police did not explain why the person was taken to the police station during or even after the move. Sarma was taken away by the police during protests outside the district magistrate’s office against Shome’s sudden detainment.
When the same happened to Sarma on Tuesday, Doloo tea estate workers and others again protested against police brutality on tea workers and their leaders. While the continued protests managed to get both leaders released, the Section 144 in the tea estate continues. Shome accused the administration of holding up leaders to scare the on-going workers movement.
For months, T.E. workers have been protesting against the demarcation of part of the estate land for the Greenfield Airport project. The concern among the community is that the demarcation will affect their livelihood. Instead of an airport, they called for regulation of labourers in the public hearing regarding the project. The AMSU has been at the forefront of this movement to protect labour rights.
Yet, on May 12, as many as 30 lakh tea bushes and 1,000 trees were destroyed using bulldozers. Moreover, the Section 144 imposed at the time continues even today, hindering the T.E. workers from holding a public protest. To condemn such actions against the workers, the AMSU and other invested groups formed the Doloo Tea Estate Save Protection Committee.
On behalf of this Committee Coordinator Subrata Nath said, “99 percent tea workers protested against the eviction at the public hearing called by district administration.”
Similarly, fellow Coordinator Hillal Bhattacharya pointed out that the central government’s records do not mention the Greenfield airport project in Barak valley. This puts the alleged eviction of T.E. workers under further suspicion. Bhattacharya said that the Committee intends to challenge the plan in the court.
“The district administration is not paying any attention towards the pain of the tea workers,” said Dolu tea estate save coordination committee.
Accordingly, workers resolved that their demands for their basic rights will not be silenced by bulldozers. Amidst monsoon, the workers continue their dissent.
Related:
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