Suvendu Adhikari hands over cheques of Rs 5 lakh each to kin of slain labourers

Kolkata: State Transport minister Suvendu Adhikari distributed cheques of Rs 5 lakh each among the family members of the five slain migrant labourers in Murshidabad's Sagardighi on Thursday and assured them of all assistance from the government.

Adhikari said he found no words to describe such a dastardly terror attack in which five labourers from Bengal were killed at Kulgam district of South Kashmir on Tuesday. One labourer sustained critical bullet injuries during the incident.

"We cannot see the pain of the bereaved families and we find no words to condemn such an incident. On behalf of the government, I have handed over the compensation to the family members of the deceased. No compensation can match the death of the labourers. The public representatives in the district also extended their help by handing over their one month salary to the bereaved families," Adhikari said.

He further added: "The state government would extend all possible help to the family members. We are arranging train or flight tickets for the other Bengali labourers working in Kashmir. The police have already started a probe into the incident."

Incidentally, the coffins containing the bodies of five slain labourers reached Kolkata Airport on late Wednesday night. State Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim accompanied the deceased and their family members from the airport to their native place. The coffins reached Bahalnagar village in Sagardighi on early Thursday morning.

Cries of grief-stricken people filled the air of Bahalnagar as the coffins entered the area amidst tight security. The villagers started congregating outside the houses of the five migrant labourers from Wednesday night. Hundreds from far-flung areas also flocked the village to express condolences. The last rites of the slain labourers were performed later in the day.

Hakim also lashed out at the BJP-led Central government over the security situation in Kashmir and questioned the "silence" of Union Home minister Amit Shah on the issue.

"The citizens of this country are being killed and Union Home minister Amit Shah is silent. What is the use of abolishing Article 370 in the Valley when people are killed," Hakim told reporters.

One labourer, identified as Basirul Sardar who survived as he went to bring food at the time of the accident, was taken to SSKM Hospital after his arrival at the airport.

He is yet to recover from the trauma and will be taken to the Institute of Psychiatry.

The deceased have been identified as Kamruddin Sheikh, Murshinam Sheikh, Rofik Ahmed Sheikh, Naimuddin Sheikh and Rofikul Alam. Zahiruddin Sheikh who sustained serious bullet injuries is fighting for his life at Anantnag district hospital.