Fear continues to grip hundreds of north Indian labourers here, who are availing every possible mode of transport to reach their hometowns, days after dust seemed to settle down on the violence sparked by MNS campaign against migrants.

Official estimates put the figure of workers who left Pune over the last fortnight at over 25,000, adversely affecting many projects of the construction industry, which employs the skilled and unskilled labour from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Rumours agog

To make things worse, the city was agog with rumours that February 25 would see another spate of violence in Maharashtra, triggering a fresh wave of migrant labourers rushing to catch North-bound trains and buses.

The vitiated atmosphere got the authorities concerned as District Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar and Collector Prabhakar Deshmukh held meetings of various people’s representatives to scotch the rumours and to reassure the jittery workforce.

They were joined by local Congress MP Suresh Kalmadi, who picketed at Pune railway station to allay fears of those boarding the trains with their family members, carrying meagre belongings.

Another batch of social activists led by former Union Minister Mohan Dharia staged a symbolic peace demonstration near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in front of railway station to emphasise the constitutional guarantee and rights of all citizens to stay and seek living in any part of the country.

Police officials, too, have issued appeals to the uneasy workers not to heed to rumours and threats and carry on with their work as adequate security measures were in place to maintain peace and industrial harmony.

Wages

Sources in the construction industry in Pune said that the north Indian workers were rejecting the offer of enhanced wages by the builders and developers and looked a disturbed lot.

The chances of return of those who would be going home to celebrate Holi also appeared thin, they added.