Chennai: A week after a fisherwoman in Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram district went missing and was later found murdered — allegedly by migrant workers, who are also suspected to have raped her — the office of the Director General of Police (DGP) has instructed police stations across the state to collect details of outstation workers in their jurisdiction.
The district administration confirmed to ThePrint Tuesday that two migrant workers from Odisha have been arrested in the case.
In an oral advisory, the DGP Tuesday ordered police stations to collect details of various categories of outstation workers, including those who work in restaurants, besides paani puri vendors, and factory and construction workers.
Companies and shop-owners who have employed outstation workers have also been asked to submit documents of these employees to the police, which will be inspected.
Speaking to ThePrint, Ramanathapuram Superintendent of Police (SP) E. Karthik said the exercise was meant to take into account all those in a police station’s limits.
“It is standard procedure to take stock of staying guests. During Covid times as well, we took stock of migrants in the state, and this is an extension of the same. Of course, after what happened to the fisherwoman… based on advice, we are taking stock of migrant workers,” he said.
“We have to take stock of strangers and make sure they do not have any criminal background,” he added.
An officer at the DGP office control room told ThePrint that “this is just an announcement, and a circular will be issued soon”.
“Outstation workers’ details such as Aadhaar number, address, and employer details will be registered at the local police station,” the officer added.
The officer confirmed that the advisory was for all outstation workers coming into Tamil Nadu from across India.
‘Visible signs of rape’
Last week, tension prevailed at Rameswaram in Ramanathapuram district when a fisherwoman went missing and was later found dead near a shrimp farm.
The incident enraged local residents, who set fire to the shrimp farm and attacked some of the farm labourers who were reportedly migrant workers.
SP Karthik had earlier said the investigation was still on, and the police had detained a few suspects.
Ramanathapuram Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) N.M. Mayilvahanan had said last week that the body of the woman “wasn’t burnt, but there are visible signs of rape”. “Six special teams (have been) formed to crack the case,” he added.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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