Tinsukia: Police detained forty four people at the New Tinsukia Railway Station after local youth questioned their identity and alerted the authorities. The group had arrived by the Chandigarh Express and said they were from Jammu and Kashmir. The Government Railway Police and the Hijuguri police outpost reached the station soon after the alert and began questioning.
Officials said the group told police they had travelled from Jammu and Kashmir on the invitation of a contractor. None of them could give a clear name. Several of them said this was their first visit to Tinsukia. They said they were headed for labour work linked to tower erection, earth digging and a project linked to Arunachal Pradesh. One member said they planned to move to Dibrugarh after completing work in Tinsukia.
Police said officers are verifying their identities and the purpose of their travel. The inquiry includes checks of travel papers, background details and employer information. Local NGOs and community groups in Assam have raised concerns in past years about migrant labour arriving without proper documentation. The incident has renewed those concerns.
Police have not reported any evidence of wrongdoing so far. The group remains in custody for verification. Officials said checks are routine during large group movement of migrant labour.
