Sensation prevailed in Upper Assam’s Tinsukia district over the murder of a tea garden chowkidar on Tuesday.
Thousands of tea-workers including women and children in presence of top tea-belt leaders blocked the National Highway 37 at Makum triangle, a town next to Tinsukia, nine kilometers south in protest against the killing.
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Traffic came to a grinding halt since Tuesday evening on Digboi and Kakopathar road.
The brutal incident took place at Betjan Tea Estate which falls under Makum police station in the district.
According to source, one Jacky Biger, 37, a chowkidar of Betjan Tea Estate was attacked by sharp weapons and killed on the spot while he was on duty.
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He received severe injuries on the head, temple, hand and leg.
Meanwhile, Assam Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam (AASAA), Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association ( ATTSA ) and Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha ( ACMS ) along with many other tea organizations took to the streets keeping the body on the road for several hours.
They burnt tyres and shouted slogans displaying placards demanding immediate arrest and rigorous punishment to the culprits.
According to protesters, tea- leaves theft incidents are linked with to the murder.
The ATTSA has also called dawn to dusk Tinsukia district bandh on Wednesday protesting the murder.
Talking to Northeast Now, tea tribe welfare and labour minister Sanjay Kishan said, “I condemn such incident in strong words. I pray his soul rest in peace. I express my condolences to the bereaved family. Jacky Biger was a dutiful worker of tea garden.”
“I have talked to the chief minister and about compensation to the next of kin of Jacky Biger.” Kishan added.
Reacting on the incident, Rupesh Gowala, the state general secretary of ACMS, said, “The district administration is unable to give a permanent solution to such incidents which occurred in past too. We want justice. We want compensation for Jacky’s kin.”
A top police official said the investigation is in progress and the teams are working to nab the culprits at the earliest.