Child murder aftermath: Call for stricter checks on migrant workers gains traction

Hubballi: The alleged kidnap and murder of a five-year-old girl by a migrant worker from Bihar Sunday has triggered alarm over public safety and the unchecked influx of labourers from other states into the city.
The incident has reignited calls for systematic background verification of migrant workers, particularly those coming from states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
Local residents have expressed concern that many landlords are renting out properties to outsiders without any verification, while contractors too often neglect to check workers' credentials. Migrant workers, both individuals and families, are increasingly staying in residential areas, raising safety concerns among locals.
"People from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra come to the city to work on construction sites. Many builders rely on outsiders because of their hard-working nature. Sunday's incident is really an eye-opener for all. Right from the owners to civil engineers, everyone should verify the credentials of migrant workers employed by contractors on their sites. They must check their Aadhaar card, take their background details, and other details," said Suresh Kiresur, former president of the Association of Consulting Civil Engineers, Hubballi.
"They should also share these details with the police department so that they can monitor migrant workers and outsiders," he added, noting that many such workers are employed in tiling, POP, model kitchens, aluminium, and interior works. "I will also take up this issue with our association and take measures to thoroughly check the credentials of outsiders," he said.
DCP (law and order) Mahaning Nandaganvi said that background checks are ongoing but will now be intensified. "Each police station is being directed to collect the details of outsiders staying within their limits by consulting contractors and other employers," he said. He urged landlords to inform police about their tenants and revealed that seven cases involving outsiders—ranging from dacoity to peddling—were cracked last year.