CHENNAI: Communist Party of India (Marxist) state secretary P Shanmugam on Tuesday condemned the murderous attack on a migrant labourer from Odisha on a train to Tiruttani, saying the involvement of juveniles in such a brutal act should be a matter of grave concern for the entire State.

Speaking to reporters here, he said police had confirmed that the four accused were minors and were allegedly under the influence of ganja when they targeted the worker. “There has been a worrying rise in ganja usage in recent times. Many such cases become known only when the police make arrests,” he said.

Shanmugam called for stronger enforcement to stop the flow of narcotics into Tamil Nadu and demanded the immediate arrest of those behind the supply networks. He said the government and police must focus on completely preventing the spread of drugs.

Pointing out that lakhs of migrant workers were employed across Tamil Nadu, he warned that such violent incidents could create a sense of fear and insecurity among them, affecting the State’s labour force. He urged the government to step up police protection on trains and take all necessary preventive measures to ensure the safety of migrant workers and the public.