Identity first: Sirmaur police tighten migrant registration

In a significant move to enhance public safety, the Sirmaur Police have mandated all labour contractors to register their migrant labourers at the nearest police station. This directive comes amidst rising concerns over crimes — ranging from thefts to murders — allegedly committed by unregistered migrants who often vanish without a trace.

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Superintendent of Police (SP) Nishchint Negi said field officers have been instructed to summon labour contractors within three days and inform them about the mandatory registration. The majority of these migrant workers come from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, and Nepal, and are engaged in large-scale construction works, including major infrastructure projects like the Paonta Sahib-Shillai-Gumma national highway.

The police have struggled to track culprits when contractors fail to register their workforce. Registration will help in monitoring behavioural patterns and identifying potential offenders early. As part of the process, photographs, mobile numbers, and permanent addresses of all migrants will be collected. Each police station will maintain a register, and “stranger rolls” will be issued to aid tracking. The identities of migrants will also be verified with their native police stations to determine any existing criminal background.

SP Negi highlighted that many miscreants escape legal action due to the reluctance of victims to register cases—especially when stolen property is recovered. This loophole allows repeat offenders to go unnoticed, enabling them to continue criminal activities elsewhere.

In one case, a Nepalese labourer adeptly broke into two shops in the Kasauli sub-division, stealing goods worth Rs 35,000. Although the stolen items were recovered, the victim declined to file a formal complaint, and no case was registered. The individual had committed the theft within a month of relocating, demonstrating both skill and a potentially criminal past.

This incident highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive migrant registration system, not just in Sirmaur but also in districts like Solan and Baddi, which host large populations of migrant workers. A similar initiative was previously launched in Solan but lost momentum. Authorities now stress the need for its revival to build and maintain an updated migrant database and safeguard the interests of local residents.