Panchayats In Punjab Announce Tough Measures Against Migrants After Boy Killed In Hoshiarpur

Several village panchayats in Punjab have passed resolutions directing undocumented migrant labourers to leave, following the 9 September murder of a five-year-old boy in Hoshiarpur, allegedly by a migrant worker, reported The New Indian Express.

At least 27 panchayats in Hoshiarpur district, including Bajwara, Chak Sadhu, Singhpur, Bassi Bahian, and Bilaspur, resolved to stop issuing residence verification certificates to migrants lacking Punjab-issued identity documents.

They also asked such migrants to vacate within a week. On 13 September, sarpanches from 27 villages held a joint meeting in Bajwara and submitted a request to Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain for administrative support.

Chabbewal panchayat adopted its resolution on Sunday. Panchayat member Charanjit Singh said, “There is unity among villages across communities and castes on this issue.”

Bajwara sarpanch Rajesh Kumar alias Bobby Mahe claimed 200–250 migrants live in the village, many on encroached panchayat land. He said migrants on rent could stay only if landlords gave written undertakings. “Migrants without valid identity documents have been asked to vacate the villages,” he said.

Other panchayats, including Baddla, Purhiran, Deepes, and Gehari Bhagi, imposed stricter curbs. Deepes barred “outsiders” from living inside the village, while Gehari Bhagi prohibited migrants from buying property, registering Aadhaar or voter IDs with village addresses, and restricted them to farm huts or tube wells. Farmers employing migrants must ensure police verification.

The Bhartiya Kisan Union (Sidhu Pur) supported the moves, alleging migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar disrupt local social harmony.

Reacting, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann cautioned: “Tomorrow, Punjabis with businesses in Raipur or Kolkata could be targeted the same way. There cannot be such discrimination.”

Similar resolutions surfaced earlier in Fatehgarh Sahib, SAS Nagar, and Mansa districts, some even restricting marriages with migrants.

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