30 migrants from Maha sneak in truck to UP; caught after 1500-km journey

In what could be described as lady luck not smiling on them, 30 migrant workers managed to travel almost 1,500 km in a truck from Maharashtra by dodging police at multiple checkpoints along the route by covering themselves with a tripal (a large plastic sheet) but only to be discovered at Khatauli in Uttar Pradesh.

On Monday (May 11) evening, police said that since the trailer was covered with a tripal (a large plastic sheet), it gave the impression that it was carrying vegetables. But upon checking, it was found that nine of the 30 migrant labourers were headed to Muzaffarnagar and the rest to Aligarh, also in Uttar Pradesh.

The nine workers who were going to Muzaffarnagar were stopped for action to be taken against them for violation of lockdown norms. The rest were sent to their destination Aligarh. It was also left to that district administration to decide on acting against them, the police said.

The workers said that they were not stopped at various checkpoints along the route for nearly three-day of travel as police thought the vehicle was carrying vegetables.

Ever since the lockdown was imposed, migrants have been trying to reach their native places by hook or crook. Some begin to walk, some try to sneak in vehicles and so on. But with the train services resuming migrants have begun to heave a sigh of relief as their dream of uniting with their loved ones is indeed turning out to be true.