Games workers shown the door

At midnight on Thursday, a dozen police officers from the local police station allegedly barged into the families' tents and lathicharged them to vacate. On their part, the authorities said they couldn't do much. Jatin Anand and Karan Choudhury report.

Every time Animesh Giri, a labourer, steps out of the house, he carries a copy of his ration card, voter ID card and police verification certificate with him.

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As many as 70 families have gone back to their hometowns in Jhansi, Barabanki, North and South 24 Parganas, Kathua and Bhagalpur, among other places.

It was the RWAs who got to initially know about being eviction. "Our maids told us that they would be on leave for the next month as the police have asked them to go back," said a member of C2, Vasant Kunj, Residents Welfare Association.

"My family of 11 is among the four others here that has toiled on the JLN stadium for more than three months," said Tejram (35) from Jhansi.

At midnight on Thursday, a dozen police officers from the local police station allegedly barged into the families' tents and lathicharged them to vacate. On their part, the authorities said they couldn't do much.

"Even the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition), Central Rules, 1971 has no provisions on how to deal with migratory labour once their projects have been completed. What can they do but be sent back?" asked a senior official from the central Labour Commission.

State Labour Commissioner Rajender Dhar said he didn't couldn't understand 'what' the issue was despite having visited the JLN Stadium in response to a Delhi High Court directive on Monday morning.

Union Assistant Labour Commissioner A.C. Katoch said, "This (eviction) is deplorable but (it is) due to an extensive pressure on security arrangements the police are being forced to behave in such a manner."