SAMBALPUR:In a shocking incident, a physically-deformed migrant labourer was stabbed by a labour sardar (contractor) for seeking more time to move out for work in Patnagarh sub division of Balangir district. The role of police has come under scanner as there is no trace of the victim after the incident.
The labourer was identified as Narsingha Majhi of Bharuanmunda within Lathore police limits in Khaprakhol block. Majhi has lost four fingers of his left hand due to an accident in the past.
As per reports, Majhi had taken an advance of `3000 from a labour contractor of Phuljhar village to migrate with him. On Monday, the sardar directed him to move out with other migrants of his group to some destination. But as Majhi sought some more time, the labour sardar got enraged and attacked him with a knife.
In the attack, Narsingha sustained injuries on his leg and was rushed to Khaprakhol CHC. However, there is no trace of Narsingha after he was taken to the CHC for treatment. It is suspected that the labour contractor might have shifted him to some undisclosed destination to sweep the matter under carpet.
Surprisingly, though the victim sustained injuries caused by a sharp weapon and was taken to the CHC, the matter was not reported to police. Moreover, SDPO Seshadeb Bariha feigned ignorance about any such incident taking place.
Locals said labour contractors have an unholy nexus with police and their misdeeds often go unreported. The sardars illegally traffic people from unirrigated pockets of the district to alien lands and get a substantial cut. They, in turn, pay the local police and other administrative officials who maintain a stoic silence if something goes wrong, they alleged.
Contacted, Balangir SP K Siva Subramani said he has no information about the incident since he was out of town. However, the SP assured to look into the matter and ensure that the culprit is nabbed.
Another such gruesome incident had taken place in December, 2013 in which palms of two migrant workers Nilambar Dhangra Majhi (40) of Nuaguda and Diyalu Nial (23) of Pipalguda under Jaipatna block in Kalahandi district were chopped off by labour contractors.