High drama prevailed near Palam Vihar/Bijwasan on the Delhi-Gurugram border on Wednesday morning. Hundreds of people, claiming to be industrial workers, marched towards Gurugram from Delhi and when stopped at the border, pelted stones at the city police. "An FIR has been registered against 50 persons for creating ruckus and attacking police. Three have been arrested so far," Preet Pal Singh, ACP-Crime, told THE WEEK.
The mob, which clashed with police, consisted primarily of migrants who insisted that they were workers of a garment industry in Udyog Vihar. Despite being repeatedly asked, they could not produce any valid ID or a pass to cross the border and none of the industries owed up to the workforce.
When police stopped them from entering Gurugram, the mob went on a rampage. They pelted stones and bricks at the Gurugram police. The videos of the same went viral on social media.
“As per our information, all industrial workers have been issued one-time industrial passes that will allow them to enter Gurugram for once and then, stay in the city only in lodgings that will be arranged by the factories concerned. They had no such passes and when stopped, they grew violent and attacked us," said Davinder Singh, SHO Palam Vihar.
“Given the stringent SOPs, we are required to arrange lodgings for all workers. No passes are being provided for daily travel even if the workers live at stone throw in Delhi villages near the border. The industry does not have enough resources for the same and despite being allowed to get 100 per cent workers, they have started with only about 40 per cent in Gurugram," said an office-bearer of Udyog Vihar Industrial Association.
Highly placed sources claimed that the migrants from Delhi tried to cross illegally as there was an unverified report of a 'Shramik' special bus coming at Palam Vihar border to carry migrants from Gurugram.
Ironically, while Delhi police had erected checkpoints in the area, they did not stop those entering the city landing Gurugram police in trouble. Heavy security has now been deployed and the local municipal corporation is erecting a temporary wall to close the route.
“We are in the process of registering a case and analysing the situation. Nobody from the mob or any local resident has been injured. Some policemen have sustained injuries. We, however, have increased the security to discourage any attempt to breach the border," said Singh.
