DIBRUGARH, Sept 11 - Thousands of tea garden workers today staged a five-hour blockade of the Moran-Naharkatia road near Teenali tea estate after a charred body of a woman worker was recovered from a guest room of the assistant manager�s bungalow of Teenali tea estate under Tingkhong Police Station on Monday night.
Vijay Kumar Sharma, the accused assistant manager, was however arrested vide case (no. 178 u/s 376/302 IPC later. Police is also in the lookout for other members and employees engaged in the bungalow, said Biswajit Sharma, OC, Tingkhong Police Station.
The tea workers who were supported by Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha, All Adivasi Students Association of Assam, Assam Tea Tribes Students Association, Adivasi Chah Jonogusti Surakha Sammittee and Krishak Mukti Sangram Sammittee alleged that the victim identified as Pinky alias Rukmoni Tanti (27) was murdered. Given the fact that the body was found inside a guest room and none inside the bungalow was aware about the horrifying incident or hue and cry, the murder appears to be orchestrated, the workers and the supporting organisations opined.
The protestors have demanded a thorough investigation into the incident by a high-level inquiry committee. They have also demanded Rs 10 lakh as compensation and job to the next of kin of the deceased.
