Despite the increase in cases of foreign workers and crimes associated with them, Kerala is struggling with the massive number of illegal migrants in the state, says report. Though the census to find the exact number of such migrants in the state was initiated much earlier, the Kerala labour department is still not able to complete the same, reports Kerala Kaumudi.
Rajendra, who was arrested by the police in connection with the recent murder in the city is such a migrant. Vineetha, who was working in a plant shop in Ambalamukku, was brutally stabbed to death by him, however, though he was working next to the police station, the authorities couldn’t even have a clue of his presence.
The fact is that the government has no data of foreign workers in the official records. As per reports, there are even gangs visiting the state for committing theft and assault and silently return to their native. In the absence of a security check, even criminals are coming to various parts of the state with fake identity cards.
The majority of such illegal migrants in the state are addicted to drugs and narcotics, says the report. There is no place in Kerala today where there are no foreign workers. Police are currently collecting data on foreigners living in those areas, focusing on residents’ associations. Residents’ associations are formed by forming squads at the respective police stations. But there are allegations that the labour department is not taking it seriously enough.
As per reports, people from over 20 states including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Bengal, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Kashmir are in Kerala now. Most of them live in the capital city. It is unofficially estimated that there were about 30 lakh foreign workers in Kerala before the pandemic, however, the government has no details of the exact number of people.
As per reports, the presence of illegal migrants is not only posing danger to the people in the state but also is a threat to national security.
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