Chief minister Mamata Banerjee took an initiative to bring back 131 workers of Murshidabad, who are stranded in Kashmir, to West Bengal. Last night, Banerjee received a call asking for help from one of the workers who reportedly told her that their life is in danger. He also informed her that they are panic-stricken as their life was at stake.

The worker said that they are living in danger and reportedly asked the chief minister to save them. The chief minister contacted the DGP around 11 p.m. and immediately asked him to make arrangements to bring back the stranded workers of Murshidabad from Kashmir. Throughout the night the DGP and other officer tried to contact the workers and at last were successful in contacting 122 workers who were working in different parts of Kashmir, far away from Srinagar.

The state administration has asked for CRPF protection and is bringing back 122 workers who are supposed to reach Jammu this midnight in a bus. “We have to book coaches to bring back 131 workers to Kolkata and then to Murshidabad,” said Miss Banerjee. “Nine workers are already in Srinagar. So, the total is 131. 122 workers are coming by a bus, being escorted by CRPF and are expected to reach Jammu by midnight,” she added.

The chief minister further said: “122 workers are already in transit. They will board the train from Jammu and the state government is trying to book two coaches for them.” The chief minister also said that most of the workers were terrified after this brutal killing while a few of them are in dilemma as they are yet to get their salaries.

Notably, five migrant workers, namely, Naimuddin Sheikh (39), Kamiruddin Sheikh alias Voter (35), Murshalim Sheikh (37), Rafikul Sheikh (23) and Rafik Sheikh (52), all hailing from Bahalnagar, a mid-Bengal village – were abducted five on 29 October, lined up and allegedly shot dead by terrorists at Kaatarsu area of Kulgam district in Kashmir. Their coffins aboard midnight flights and reached Dumdum airport early last morning and were escorted by West Bengal government’s minister Firhad Hakim.