Labourers Assault Bahipukhuri Tea Garden Manager at Tangla, Assam

A Correspondent

TANGLA, July 25: The manager of Bahipukhuri Tea Estate at Mazbat in Udalguri district was assaulted by irate workers of the estate on Tuesday evening allegedly due to non-payment of wages. He has been hospitalized in Guwahati. Police sources said that the workers had gheraoed the bungalow of the manager and he was rescued by police in the nick of time. Two police personnel also received injuries. According to sources, due to the bandh on Monday, the manager told the workers that they would get payment the next day.

“The workers accepted this in the morning but by evening they got drunk and assaulted the manager. They also had other grievances and complained against the high-handedness of the manager,” said sources. The tea labourers were also furious due to the fact that the next day there was a local weekly market and the workers usually buy products from this market. But without the wages they would not be able to buy anything. The workers were armed with sticks and daos and also pelted stones. The manager received injuries on the back and head and was taken to Guwahati for better treatment. The Bahipukhuri tea estate is under the Dhunseri Tea Company.