District administration orders probe into tea workers' death

Silchar, Aug 23 (UNI) Karimganj Deputy Commissioner Bhupendra Sharma today ordered a magisterial-level probe into the recent death of three workers of Jalalnagar Tea Estate in the district reportedly due to starvation.

He asked circle officer (Karimganj) Pallav Majumdar to inquire into the deaths and circumstances behind it and submit a report within the next fortnight.

Nearly 500 workers of the Tea Estate, having three out-gardens namely Jalalnagar, Madanpur and Rampur in the district near Indo-Bangladesh border, have been nearly starving after the management of All India Tea and Trading Company Limited, the owners of the garden, stopped the supply of ration for the last seven years, alleged Indian Tea Employees Union (ITEA) Jalalnagar TE unit secretary Gautom Tanti.

Anjali Nayek (32), Subhadra Nayek (60) and Surabala Nayek (34), the workers of the tea garden, died recently due to starvation.

A number of other workers were also bedridden, said ITEA official.

UNI XC KK GL CS1855