AT Photo
Hailakandi, Sept19: The district administration of Hailakandi has filed FIR against the leaders of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti and Hailakandi district Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Association affiliated to CITU and AIFAWAH for violating COVID-19 protocols.
A case has been registered in Hailakandi sadar police station under section 143, 341, 353, 269, 270 IPC and sec 3 of epidemic diseases act, sec 51(A), 51(B) of disaster management act, 2005. Three persons have so far been arrested and they are secretary and joint secretary of SMSS, Forid Uddin Laskar and Asrafull Alom Barbhuiya, and joint secretary of KMSS, Amir Hussain Barbhuiya. Besides 231 Anganwadi workers and helpers were also arrested but later released on PR bond under section 107 CrPC.
It can be mentioned here that the members of KMSS, SMSS and Anganwadi workers and helpers staged a dharna in front of the district social welfare office on Saturday in support of their various demands and also submitted a memorandum to the state chief minister enlisting their demands. The secretary of the association, Madhumita Gupta informed that they staged dharna democratically and their demands are genuine. She alleged that about 3000 Anganwadi workers and helpers of the district have not been paid their dues for the last six months and are being forced to perform all sorts of duties. Due to the absence of regular social welfare officers, integrated child development officers, they are facing extreme hardship. She said that the memorandum demanded to institute a magisterial inquiry into the various activities of the department such as supply of furniture etc to the Anganwadi centres without tender. She alleged that cases have been slapped against them for violating COVID-19 protocols and alleged that this is a conspiracy to stop the movement of workers. Later arrested the 231 Anganwadi workers and helpers under the preventive section of law and released in the evening.
A senior police official said that the case is now under investigation and search is on to arrest the others. The leaders of KMSS and SMSS have threatened to launch a vigorous movement if their arrested members are not released unconditionally.
