4 Assam youths found dead in Bengaluru room; kin cry foul, Himanta Biswa Sarma seeks Karnataka govt’s help

BENGALURU/GUWAHATI: Four young warehouse security guards from Assam's Mising community, two of them siblings, were found dead Friday evening inside their small room at Sulibele in Hoskote taluk on the outskirts of Bengaluru. Police suspect they died overnight from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by fumes from a stove inside the closed room.

Fellow workers reported the deaths after breaking open a window to check on Dactor Taid (18), his elder brother Dhananjay Taid (23), their cousin Narendranath Taid (30) and Jayant Chinte (23) when they didn't step out as usual for their shift at a soft drinks storage facility.


"It seems the youths became unconscious when smoke filled their room while cooking rice on a portable stove after closing the windows and the door. We found charred rice over the stove, which must have burnt out through the night," a police officer said.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state govt would speak to his Karnataka counterpart Siddaramaiah to help bring the bodies home at the earliest. "I have asked Assam Police to get in touch with Bengaluru Police and enquire about the investigation," he told reporters at Naoboicha in Lakhimpur.

Dactor, Narendra and Dhananjay were from Namoni Borkhamukh village in Dhakuakhana subdivision of Lakhimpur, while Jayanta's family lives at Shalmora in Naoboicha.

Along with Ajay Payeng of Majuli, the deceased moved to Bengaluru around four months ago to find work. After being hired as guards at a CFA (Access Warehousing)–operated warehouse , they moved into a rented room. Payeng survived because he was rostered for duty during the day.

"We received a call around midnight about what happened. We suspect foul play. A thorough investigation is required," Dhananjay and Dactar's sibling Seniram Taid told TOI on Saturday.

Villagers thronged the homes of the deceased, demanding an inquiry into the deaths and appealing for the bodies to be airlifted immediately.

According to Assam govt data, about 84% of the 8 lakh young people from the state working outside are spread across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Puducherry, while another 11% are employed in Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Most of these youths are employed by IT, construction, private security, retail and hospitality companies. Cumulatively, these migrant workers remit nearly Rs 230 crore annually to Assam.