GUWAHATI, Dec 27 � The gruesome murder of Kunapathar Tea Estate (TE) owner Mridul Bhattacharyya and his wife Rita Bhattacharyya by an irate mob of tea garden labourers yesterday has created serious concern in the State�s tea industry. Tea industry has vehemently condemned this gruesome act and called for immediate measures to deter recurrence of such incidents.
The Assam Tea Planters� Association (ATPA) has strongly condemned the inhuman, barbaric and uncivilised act of burning to death Bhattacharyya and his wife by �a group of workers in collusion with some outsiders.�
The incident is sending a very dangerous message to the tea industry affecting peace, discipline and prosperity of the State and its people, said the ATPA in a statement sent to the media. The statement is signed by ATPA chairman Rajib Barooah.
North Eastern Tea Association chairman Bidyananda Barkakoty, in a statement, has described the incident as horrific and pathetic. Timely arrival of police force and fire brigade probably could have saved the precious lives. Co-ordinated efforts by employers, employees and Government need to be taken so that such gruesome incidents never happen in future, he said.
When contacted, secretary of the Assam Branch of the Indian Tea Association (ABITA) Dhiraj Kakoty has condemned the incident as inhuman and said that the incident could occur due to the lack of awareness among the workers of the laid down procedure for grievance redressal. The leaders of the workers� unions should educate their followers about these procedures so that no one takes law into one�s own hand, he said.
JN Barua, secretary of the Assam Branch of the Tea Association of India (TAI) condemned the incident. Talking to this newspaper Barua said, whatever may be the reason, no one should take law into one�s hand. Culprits should be brought to book and punished quickly to prevent recurrence of such incidents, he said.
