DIBRUGARH, Oct 5 � Hundreds of tea garden workers armed with lethal weapons, besides bows and arrows were about to attack neighbouring non-tea garden community members last night after some of their members were attacked by some unidentified outsiders. However, police forces rushed in and took control of the situation.
Police have snatched most of the weapons from the tea garden workers, Superintendent of Police, Arabinda Kalita said. However, the workers had already pulled down a house of one Durlob Gogoi of the area.
Although no killing has taken place so far, police have taken necessary precautions, given the fact that sporadic violence continues. Police have set up a temporary battalion camp in the tea estate to monitor the situation. A peace committee earlier formed was extended today with more members from both the parties in conflict, police and local civil administrators. Three VDP groups were also formed today to check antisocials, especially during the night.
The tea estate owned by Annada Tea Company Private Limited has been experiencing a tense situation ever since restoration of the encroached tea estate land to the tea garden workers by the local administration. The tea estate was illegally transferred in segments to some sixty different local individuals after the management failed to run the plantation owing to severe losses. Adivasi Chah Janagosthi Suraksha Samiti had taken the lead to get back the tea garden land from the illegal settlers. Taking back of the tea garden plots had not gone down well with the local individuals who had invested their money.
Tea garden workers alleged that members of their community have been subjected to threats and sporadic attacks by outsiders ever since they got back the illegally transferred tea garden land. �Some non-tea garden community members are making desperate attempts to occupy the tea garden land illegally yet again by destablishing the present tea garden management,� SP Kalita told this newspaper.
