Assam tea workers leave Arunachal Pradesh, allegedly assaulted by garden authorities

MARGHERITA: At least 30 families working in a tea garden of Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh have come back to the state after being allegedly assaulted by tea garden authorities of Rongkatu Tea estate.

According to reports, an altercation between proprietor Bijender Pal Singh and manager Amrit Dutta, led to a fight where Dutta was allegedly attacked with a knife.

“The other tea garden workers were beaten up and their cash, mobile phone and other belongings were snatched by local tea workers of Changlang,” said, Amrit Dutta said.

The 30 families have returned to their homes in Panikhuwa of Tinsukia district of Assam, 50 km away from Changlang district in Arunachal Pradesh.

The All Assam Students Association of Assam (AASAA), Margherita Regional Committee in Collaboration with its Tinsukia District Committee staged a three–hour long road blockade near Margherita -Changlang road in protest against the assault against the Adivasi Tea Garden workers of Rongkatu Tea Estate.

Ramanus Lakra, General Secretary of AASAA Tinsukia District Committee said, that an FIR has been lodged at Changlang Police Station but no action has been taken against Rongkatu Tea garden Proprietor and other Staffs.  Ramanus Lakra said that Bijender Pal Singh(Pinku) Proprietor of Rongkatu Tea Garden owned 2000 Bighas of Tea Garden at Changlang Arunachal Pradesh and by using money and muscle power he used to exploit, cheat and forcefully lead the Adivasi Tea Garden workers to work at his garden since many years.

“ When Adivasi Tea Garden workers protest against it, Bijender Pal Singh(Pinku) on Monday brutally attacked on them and took away their money and other essential commodities. "I demand Tinsukia District Administration and Tinsukia District Superintendent of Police to take stern legal action against Rongkatu Tea Garden Proprietor Bijender Pal Singh(Pinku) and his 3 staffs Chandra Saikia, Sarat Saikia and Intu Phukan,” said Lakra.

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A memorandum was given to Tinsukia District Deputy Commissioner through Margherita Administration (Civil) on the same. In the memorandum, the student body has also demanded to stop the supply of green leaf to Assam produced in Rongkatu Tea estate.

However, C A Namchoom, Officer-in-Charge of Changlang Police Station, Arunachal Pradesh has stated that so far the tea garden workers have not submitted any complaint against the tea garden authorities.

“We have received a complaint of Amrit Dutta where he mentioned of getting attacked with a knife. But after preliminary investigation, he withdrew the statement. Again the complaint does not include any incident of snatching away money, mobile phones and other belongings of the tea garden workers from Assam.”

He said that the case is under investigation and is in Chief Judicial Magistrates’ Court in Changlang district.

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