Migrants workers are Victims, not criminals : Gujarat HC

The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday granted bail to 33 migrant labourers who were arrested for clashing with police in Vastrapur in May.
The court of Justice Paresh Upadhyay observed that the accused were “victims, and certainly not criminals.”
The migrants were charged with sections pertaining to unlawful assembly, rioting, causing hurt to public servant under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and also under provisions of the Epidemic Act, 1897, the Disaster Management Act and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
Nirav Mishra, the advocate representing the accused, submitted before the court that the migrants were without any work, money and even food during the lockdown. Under these circumstances, they wanted to go back home, which led to the alleged untoward incident on May 18.
Of the total 33 applicants, 32 were from Jharkhand and one from West Bengal.

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