Coimbatore Police focuses on migrant worker pockets to prevent crimes

After five murders involving them were documented in the rural district in the last three months, COIMBATORE: In a bid to prevent crime, Coimbatore District Police intensified its focus on areas with a high concentration of migrant workers.

Key points

• Police remarked Karumathampatti Sub-Division is prioritised as all six police station limits – Chettipalayam, Sulur, Sultanpet, Neelambur, Kovilpalayam and Karumathampatti – are known for industries and warehouses.
• Particular attention is being given to Karumathampatti Sub-Division, where police have identified around 60 locations where plenty of migrant workers stay, away from their workplaces.
• Superintendent of Police A Pavankumar Reddy remarked a gathering was lately held with registered agents who recruit migrant labourers from other states for firms in Coimbatore district.
• Police finally established her identity through a tattoo with the name 'Jagan' on her hand.
• Even for our session, only 10 per cent of agents turned up.

Particular attention is being given to Karumathampatti Sub-Division, where police have identified around 60 locations where plenty of migrant workers stay, away from their workplaces. Police teams have began sensitising them to prevent their involvement in illegal and criminal activities.

"We faced much difficulty in murder cases involving migrant labourers and we could not easily identify the person involved. In some cases, even establishing the identity of the deceased took massive effort. So bringing all migrant labourers under registration is necessary. Additionally, the agents who bring them here are asked to have their particulars, " the SP stated.

Citing the July Madukkarai murder case of 21-year-old Odisha native Parsha, police remarked the investigation faced major hurdles as the partially decomposed body was abandoned in an isolated area with no CCTV coverage to trace vehicle or suspect movements. Identifying the victim was additionally challenging initially. Police finally established her identity through a tattoo with the name 'Jagan' on her hand. The prime suspect and her husband Jagan Pradhan had gone missing after switching off his mobile phone, cutting off digital trails. Though he was arrested within 11 days, the case highlighted challenges in migrant-related crimes.

"Most agents are unregistered. Even for our session, only 10 per cent of agents turned up. We have to streamline the agents first, " remarked an officer involved in the investigation.

Police remarked Karumathampatti Sub-Division is prioritised as all six police station limits – Chettipalayam, Sulur, Sultanpet, Neelambur, Kovilpalayam and Karumathampatti – are known for industries and warehouses. While most industries provide accommodation near workplaces, around two lakh migrant workers reside at 60 locations outside workplaces in this sub-division alone. Teams from each station frequently visit their accommodations and sensitise them, police continued.

For now, coimbatore Police focuses on migrant worker pockets to prevent crimes remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.