Will there be action against assailant? Labourer, assaulted by head of Construction Company, traced from Patna

Sarthak Kanjilal

Port Blair, Nov 09: Though the Pahargaon Police successfully traced the missing labourer from Patna, delay in action against the head of the construction agency for alleged brutalisation may invite flak for the cops.

Kamal Khan, a private labourer working for a defence project at Brichgunj under a private construction company was reportedly thrashed by the head of the private agency for demanding pending wages and was later reported missing.

Pahargaon Police initially declined to register a missing complaint, but acted after Andaman Sheekha published a report on Nov 3, 2015 and traced the labourer from Patna.

According to reports, Kamal Khan, the most vocal among his colleagues, approached the local head of the construction company along with other labourers demanding release of pending salaries. The conversation reportedly turned violent and the agents of the company hit Kamal Khan mercilessly with an iron bar inflicting serious injuries.

The head of the construction Company, rushed the victim to hospital for treatment of injuries. However, the labourer claimed that it was the last time he was seen. Later, about 40-50 labourers reached Pahargaon Police Station on Oct 31 at about 7 pm with a public leader to register a missing report and complaint against the construction agency for delay in disbursal of wages.

When Andaman Sheekha contacted the victim on Monday, his brother received the call and informed that Kamal Khan arrived Patna about 5 days ago after treatment of his head injuries. He also disclosed that Kamal Khan was brutally beaten up and threatened of dire consequences by the local head of the construction company if he dares to reveal the incident before Police.

Though the Police successfully traced the labourer from Patna, it remains to be seen on the course of action the cops undertake after it has been established that Kamal Khan was beaten up mercilessly by the head of the construction company, probably an influential personality, who dared to take law in his hands.

When Andaman Sheekha tried to contact the head of the said construction company, Andaman Sheekha was told that the local head of the company is out of station. Staffs also refused to share the mobile number of the local head of the company.