11 Migrant Workers Try To Pedal Back To Odisha From Surat

Navsari: Gujarat police arrested 11 migrant workers, who were heading from Surat to their hometown in Odisha on bicycles, police officials said on Tuesday.

The workers were detained by Navsari police on Sunday at the National Highway No.48, which connects Gujarat to Mumbai, according to police inspector PP Brahmbhatt.

“These workers from Odisha were jobless since several weeks due to the lockdown. They were desperate to go back home as they had no money and were facing food shortage. They had planned to cover 1,500 km on bicycles, but lost their path and started cycling towards Mumbai via Navsari,” Inspector Brahmbhatt told PTI.

The workers were detained under IPC Sections 188 (disobedience of police order), 269, 270 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life).

However, they were released on bail later on and were sent to Pandesara in Surat.

The poor workers were carrying dry poha (flattened rice) for their journey.

Scores of migrant workers from Odisha are stranded in different parts of the country due to the nationwide lockdown.