Around 500 workers of a tea garden in the Dooars that closed down at least thrice in the past two years have left the garden and migrated to other states in search of jobs in the past two months.

Some more workers are planning to follow them as they are jobless.

The Bamandanga-Tondu tea estate, in Nagrakata block of Jalpaiguri district, has seen close to half of its workforce migrate.

According to sources, there were 1,174 permanent workers in the garden. In 2022, the garden had closed down on December 24 for around a month. Again, in October this year, the management abandoned the garden. On November 22, the garden reopened in presence of state tribal affairs minister Bulu Chik Baraik, but closed on the very next day.

“Since 2001, the garden has closed down six or seven times. There had been changes in the management but the trend of closure has continued. We are fed up with this situation and cannot continue to live here amid this uncertainty. That is why around 500 workers have already left for other states. Some more of us will leave soon. We may have to stay in far-flung places but there is the certainty of making some money every day as casual labourers,” said Akash Oraon, who is planning to leave for Kerala.

Karan Oraon, one of his former co-workers, who recently left for Kerala, said he found no point in staying in the garden.

“The garden is closed. All we get is free flour from the local ration shops. How can one run a family like this? That is why I have migrated to Kerala where I am working at a construction site,” he said over the phone.

The Bamandanga-Tondu estate was owned by Prassana Roy, allegedly a close associate of former education minister Partha Chatterjee. Roy was also arrested in connection with the recruitment scam. Of late, his brother was reportedly running the garden.

Local Trinamul leaders admitted that workers were migrating. “Many of them have left alone, some with their families. They don’t have any alternative job option at the garden,” said Sanjil Lohar, the unit secretary of Trinamul Cha Bagan Sramik Union, at the garden.

Officials of the state labour department said they were monitoring the situation.

“We are also taking necessary initiatives to expedite the reopening of the garden,” said Pranab Kumar Das, the assistant labour commissioner posted in Malbazar.

Robbery bids fail

Criminals tried to loot three jewellery shops in Alipurduar town on Saturday night but failed because of prompt police intervention.

The police could nab two persons so far. Cops suspect they are from the same gang that made similar attempts in jewellery shops in Kamakhyaguri and Falakata of Alipurduar and Pundibari and Ghoksadanga of Cooch Behar.

Sources said that on Saturday night, the gang reached Alipurduar Junction area, and broke open a jewellery shop. They couldn’t find any valuables as the owner had taken them home. They tried to break the shutters of two other shops. By then, a police team reached the spot, forcing them to flee.

Cops scanned CCTV footage and held two persons. Jewellers have been alerted, said Y. Raghuvamshi, the SP of Alipurduar.