Besides these killings, a staggering 1,143 documented complaints of physical and mental harm against Bengali speaking migrants have also been reported. The harassment includes illegal or irregular detentions by the police authorities and labourers threatened or brutalised. This Bengali newspaper has documented these here.

As far back as September 2025, Citizens for Justice and Peace, had submitted a comprehensive complaint to the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), highlighting what it described as an “alarming and coordinated escalation of hate speech” across India. The complaint documents how Bengali-origin Muslims, many of whom are lawful Indian citizens, are being systematically vilified as “Bangladeshis” and “ghuspaithiye” (infiltrators) in election rallies, public protests, and online campaigns. The details of CJP’s submissions to the NCM Chairperson may be read here.

In this complaint, the notorious chief minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma’s hate speeches, the speeches by Situ Barua of Jatiya Sangrami Sena and Milan Buragohain of All Tai Ahom Students’ Union, both accused of stopping buses and threatening Muslim labourers to “vacate Upper Assam,” that by Bir Lachit Sen, whose followers reportedly conducted door-to-door “document checks” and forced evictions were included.

Besides there were other such targeted speeches made in Bihar, Delhi and Maharashtra. Maharashtra that has seen four such murders happening has both in the state and local bodies now got the BJP firmly in the saddle of power. Only last week, the newly sworn in Mayor of Mumbai (sworn in close to a month after the election results) vowed “to crackdown on hawkers in the city and ordered birth certificate checks” as part of a “crackdown on illegal Bangladeshi nationals living in the city,” reported India Today.

Related:

Under Suspicion: Bengali Migrant workers face mass detentions, fear, and statelessness in Gurugram crackdown

Under Siege for Speaking Bengali: Detentions, deportations and a rising pushback against the targeting of Bengali migrant workers across India

Bengali Migrant Workers Detained in Odisha: Calcutta High Court demands answers, seeks coordination between states

The post 12 Bengali migrant workers murdered in 6 states, Maharashtra tops the crime list appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Criminal antecedents of accused from right wing outfits 

The statement reads:

“The hardened criminals who have been arrested for leading the attack have been identified as activists and supporters of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). They are said to have actively campaigned for the BJP in the just concluded local body elections. They are history-sheeters with cases including attempt to murder against them. The first accused Anu son of Appunni has 9 criminal cases against him in the Valayar police station involving serious charges including attempt to murder for gravely injuring CPI (M) and DYFI workers 15 years ago. (FIR No. 336/2015, 419/2015, 002/2009, 106/2012, 569/ 2012, 829/2013, 364/2012, 30/2007, 04/2023 all in Valayar Town North and Kasaba Police stations).

“Another accused, Prasad son of Chandran has 2 cases (FIR No. 996/2014, 821/ 2015) and Murali son of Chathu has 3 cases (FIR No. 106/2012, 2/2009, 569/2012). During the court proceedings local BJP leader R Jineesh, an accused in another murder case visited the accused and arranged support.

In a detailed analysis of the state of affairs in the country has not spared the top leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP.) Says the statement, “The hate-campaign unleashed by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah raising the false bogey of illegal “Bangladeshi infiltrators” for electoral benefits through communal polarisation is responsible for creating such an atmosphere. In the context of widespread murders of innocent people especially after Narendra Modi become the Prime Minister, AIKS once again reiterates the demand for a law against mob lynching with strong deterrent punishment and state support to victim families.”

“Widespread attacks against the Christian and Muslim minorities across India are going on in a way damaging national unity.  Christmas celebrations also were targeted by the Sangh Parivar organisations even in the capital city, New Delhi. The United Christian Forum (UCF) in a letter to the Home Minister had pointed out that there were 843 incidents of crime in 2024 alone against Christians across India, meaning 70 violent incidents per month. In 2025 till November 706 such incidents were recorded.”

The AIKS has appealed to all political parties, mass and class movements across the country to unite against hate politics and communal polarisation being spearheaded by the Sangh Parivar and the BJP. Let us all unite against hate and divisive communal polarisation.  The statement was signed by AIKS president, Ashok Dhawale and general secretary, Vijoo Krishnan.

Related:

Kerala Lynching: Migrant worker lynched in Palakkad a ‘victim of Sangh Parivar’s hate politics’ says state government

The post Demand that Modi provides Rs 1 crore compensation for migrant worker, Ram Narayan Baghel killed by right wing goons in Kerala: AIKS appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Ramnarayan Baghel, 31, was a resident of Champa district in Chhattisgarh and had travelled to Kerala on December 13. He was lynched in Attappallam village after being suspected of theft.

In a video of the incident circulating on social media, the assailants can be heard asking Baghel: “Are you a Bangladeshi?” reported The Indian Express.

In reaction, Kerala’s Local Self Government Minister MB Rajesh said that Baghel had been “attacked after being stigmatised as Bangladeshi”, the newspaper reported. Rajesh, who is a Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader from Palakkad, alleged that the assailants included RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) workers, who are facing criminal charges in other cases. The RSS has a high number of branches (shakhas) in Kerala and recently its political formation, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BBJP) made significant inroads in local elections, even winning Trivandrum (Thiruvanthapuram).

“The migrant worker who came in search of a job was tried (sic) and assaulted, accused of being a Bangladeshi,” Rajesh was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. “He is a victim of the racial hatred being spread by Sangh Parivar in the country.”

Following the killing, on last Thursday, the Kerala Police arrested five persons in the case and charged them with murder, according to the newspaper. Meanwhile, the victim, Baghel’s family refused to receive his body at the Thrissur Medical College Hospital on Sunday, reported The Hindu. They demanded compensation of Rs 25 lakh and for the state government to bear the cost of transporting the body to his village. On Monday, the Kerala government promised compensation of at least Rs 10 lakh to the family, reported The Indian Express.

Palakkad Superintendent of Police Ajith Kumar said that a Special Investigation Team, headed by the deputy superintendent, has been formed to probe the case. He added that the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Prevention of Atrocities Act will be included against the persons accused in the matter.

Related:

A Decade after Bisada: Why Uttar Pradesh’s attempt to drop the Akhlaq lynching case defies law and constitution

India’s ‘tradition’ and ‘culture’ of lynching

CJP flags 8 incidents of hate crime including lynchings to National Commission for Minorities

The post Kerala Lynching: Migrant worker lynched in Palakkad a ‘victim of Sangh Parivar’s hate politics’ says state government appeared first on SabrangIndia.

According to The Wire, on July 19 the police detained at least 74 migrant workers — 11 from West Bengal and 63 from Assam — whom they suspected were undocumented Bangladeshis. These numbers just kept rising as the days proceeded. While nearly all have since been released following sustained public outcry, Hindustan Times reported that ten individuals remain in custody, alleged to be “confirmed Bangladeshis,” with deportation proceedings underway. Gurugram Police PRO Sandeep Kumar, according to Hindustan Times, said these ten are “confirmed Bangladeshis” and immigration proceedings have begun. However, officials have failed to provide clarity on the basis for these designations or the total number detained beyond the approximate figures.

“They said we are from Bangladesh. I had my Aadhaar card and voter ID, but they didn’t care,” said Hafizur Sheikh, as reported by Kashmir Media Service, a cleaner from West Bengal’s Nadia district, who was taken into custody on July 19 despite offering to procure physical copies of his documentation.

A campaign marked by fear and prejudice

The operation has induced widespread panic in migrant-dense neighbourhoods. NewsLaundry and other outlets documented how nearly 400 out of 500 Bengali-speaking workers in Sector 49’s “Bengali Market” fled the area in fear of police action, many carrying luggage by their doors in case they were detained at night.

In interviews, detainees described being picked up solely due to language or origin — Bengali speakers from Assam or Bengal targeted, held for days, denied legal counsel or phone access, forced to sign unexplained documents, and often stripped of mobile phones permanently, as per the reports of The Wire and Hindustan Times.

Fatima Begum, a domestic worker detained en route to work, recounts evenings of her children crying unanswered in the absence of her. “No one told us why we were held,” she said. According to the report of Hindustan Times, Aisha Khatun added: “Even after being released, we are scared to step outside”.

The drive has also sown panic in migrant-dense neighbourhoods. The Wire found that Khatola village, home to nearly 2,000 Assamese Muslim workers, was eerily deserted, with only a handful of women left. “We stayed because our husbands are inside [detention centres],” said Rohima. “But most have fled to Dhubri in Assam.”

In interviews with The Wire, detainees described being picked up based solely on their language or place of origin. Some said they were held for days, denied access to communication or legal aid, and forced to sign papers before being released without explanation. Mobile phones were confiscated and, in many cases, never returned.

In Palam Vihar, landlords have started evicting Bengali-speaking tenants under police pressure. Migrants are boarding buses to Murshidabad, Malda, Barpeta, and Karimganj, afraid that their turn will come next, according to The Tribune.

A drive rooted in Delhi’s directives

The detentions align with a May 2, 2025 directive from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs mandating states to identify and deport undocumented Bangladeshis and Rohingyas, granting a 30-day window for verification under specified guidelines, according to the report of Times of India. In keeping, Gurugram set up four operational holding centres, a move confirmed by Deputy Commissioner Ajay Kumar in the Kashmir Media Service report, though detailed detainee counts and procedural transparency remain undisclosed.

Gurugram police have claimed the drive was part of ongoing verification operations and that most detainees were released after district-level identity confirmation. Arpit Jain, DCP (Headquarters), said suspects were “kept in holding areas till verification completed,” though he did not define the exact criteria or process for such determinations, as reported in The Week.

Voices of Resistance and Anguish

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condemned the crackdown, calling it targeted, discriminatory and an attack on Bengalis across India. 

The second most spoken language in the country, Bangla, is also the second most spoken language of Assam.

To threaten citizens, who want to coexist peacefully respecting all languages and religions, with persecution for upholding their own mother tongue is discriminatory and…

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) July 19, 2025

Have been increasingly receiving reports of detentions of and atrocities on our Bengali-speaking people from different districts of West Bengal in Gurgaon, Haryana. West Bengal police is receiving these reports from Haryana police in the name of requests for identity searches.…

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) July 24, 2025

TMC MP Mahua Moitra, likened the situation to “living in Nazi Germany.” 

Nazi BJP targeting Bengalis. We will not tolerate these brazen attacks on our linguistic & ethnic identity. My interview on @timesofindia pic.twitter.com/jRXPreIozd

— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) July 28, 2025

Attention! Migrant workers from Bengal being picked up illegally by @gurgaonpolice, is Sector 10 A community center an illegal detention camp? Maids, cooks, menial workers living in complete terror. #NaziGermany pic.twitter.com/uTaSQIK3s0

— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) July 24, 2025

Asaduddin Owaisi, MP from Hyderabad, called the mass detentions illegal and classist: “This government acts strong with the weak, and weak with the strong. Most of those who are accused of being “illegal immigrants” are the poorest of the poor: slum-dwellers, cleaners, domestic workers, rag-pickers, etc.”

Police in different parts of India have been illegally detaining Bengali-speaking Muslim citizens and accusing them of being Bangladeshi. There have been disturbing reports of Indian citizens being pushed into Bangladesh at gunpoint. This government acts strong with the weak, and… https://t.co/wtQEKiDAaL pic.twitter.com/9BRSWsf31k

— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) July 26, 2025

On July 21, CPI-ML’s Supanta Sinha visited one of the Gurugram detention centres and described conditions as “inhumane.” The party has threatened legal action, calling the entire operation unconstitutional. Sinha told The Wire that “These are illegal detentions, people are being held with no charges, no legal counsel, and no due process – only because they speak Bengali or are Muslims from Assam or Bengal.”

Cases of coercion and corruption

Multiple families report coerced release only after bribes or influence. In Khandsa’s ragpicker colony, Mijanur Molla claimed his father-in-law was released only after paying ₹6,000, despite valid documentation. He alleged beatings occurred in custody, as reported by Hindustan Times.

Another case involved Ashraful Islam, son of an Assam Industrial Security Force constable, detained on July 19 along with eight others. Despite presenting Aadhaar, PAN, school certificates, and even his father’s service ID, they were called “Bangladeshi” and held on suspicion — though local officials later intervened to seek his release, as per the report of Scroll.

‘We’re cooked for their kids, now we’re criminals’

Physical and psychological trauma continues: “This wasn’t just about legality — it was about dignity. We cook for their children, clean their houses, but they treat us like criminals,” reflected Aisha Khatun while speaking to Hindustan Times.

Meanwhile, Hindustan Times reported at least 10 trucks hauling migrants’ belongings out of Gurugram slum clusters — signalling early signs of a labour shortage in domestic and sanitation services.

Data Denied, Rights Denied

The entire operation also reveals a systemic absence of reliable migrant data. In Parliament, TMC MP Samirul Islam raised pressing questions to the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment on the status and deaths of migrant workers in the last five years. The Ministry failed to provide comprehensive data. “I sought data from the last five years, and we all know about the plight of migrant workers who were forced to walk long distances during the COVID-19-induced lockdown. There was no data available — or perhaps the BJP government is deliberately trying to hide its inefficiencies in protecting the rights of these migrants.” he wrote on X.

Islam also accused BJP-ruled states like Odisha, Maharashtra, and Delhi of unlawfully detaining and deporting Bengali migrants, with zero coordination with West Bengal. “I just want to warn the BJP: you cannot conceal your anti-Bengali attitude by hiding the data. Under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, we will continue to fight for the rights of these people.,” he said.

I asked a few questions to the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment regarding migrant workers. If you go through the questions and answers (the document is attached below), it becomes clear that we live in a country where the government does not maintain a timely or reliable… pic.twitter.com/c0gHh6PPLE

— Samirul Islam (@SamirulAITC) July 26, 2025

Conclusion

This is not the first such episode of mass detention in India. In recent weeks, a chilling pattern has emerged across multiple Indian states, including Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, where Bengali-speaking migrant workers, most of them Indian citizens, have been rounded up in mass raids, detained without proper inquiry, denied recognition of valid Indian documentation, and in some cases, forcibly deported to Bangladesh. (Detailed report may be read here.)

What began as a bureaucratic drive for “verification” has morphed into a surveillance campaign against linguistic and religious identity, disproportionately targeting poor Bengali-speaking Muslims. The absence of legal transparency, arbitrary detentions, and disregard for basic rights reveal deep fissures in the fabric of India’s constitutional promise.

Until procedural safeguards, accountability, and respect for dignity are restored, those who migrate for work risk living in a perpetual state of suspicion — their citizenship conditional, their humanity contested.

Related:

Gauhati High Court demands Centre’s deportation order amid mounting legal questions over re-detention of bail-compliant individuals

Under Siege for Speaking Bengali: Detentions, deportations and a rising pushback against the targeting of Bengali migrant workers across India

No breach, no recall, yet detained again: Gauhati HC seeks affidavit from State for re-detentions of COVID-era released detainees

“Illegal detention cannot be allowed even for a minute”: Gauhati HC orders release of Goalpara man picked up despite complying with bail conditions

Foreigner in Life, Indian in Death: The cruel end of Abdul Matleb in assam’s detention camp

Pushed Out of Sight: The covert deportation and detention crisis at Assam’s Matia detention centre

The post Under Suspicion: Bengali Migrant workers face mass detentions, fear, and statelessness in Gurugram crackdown appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Judicial Firewall: Calcutta High Court sounds the Constitutional alarm

On July 17, 2025, the Calcutta High Court issued a pointed rebuke to the Union government and state authorities over the sudden and widespread raids conducted in June to identify so-called “illegal Bangladeshis.” As per the report of Times of India, a division bench of Justices Tapabrata Chakraborty and Reetobroto Kumar Mitra posed blunt questions: “What were the reasons for these sudden nationwide raids? Were they pre-planned? On what intelligence were they based?” The Court, hearing habeas corpus petitions concerning the alleged illegal detention and deportation of Bengali-speaking migrants, including a family of three from Birbhum allegedly pushed into Bangladesh, emphasised that such actions, if based solely on language or appearance, risk sending a “wrong and dangerous message.”

The Court directed the West Bengal government, the Delhi Police, and the Union government to file detailed affidavits regarding the legality of the detentions and deportations. As per the report of LiveLaw, State counsel Kalyan Bandopadhyay submitted that it was outrageous to detain or deport any individual solely because they spoke Bengali. “The constable is not the competent authority. You cannot criminalize language. There is a procedure, a legal standard, that must be met to question someone’s citizenship,” he said, demanding data on the number of detainees and those deported.

In response, senior Union government counsel Asoke Kumar Chakraborty questioned whether habeas corpus petitions were maintainable after deportation, revealing that a parallel case had been filed in the Delhi High Court—information which the Calcutta HC had not been told earlier. The Court came down harshly on the petitioners’ lawyer for this procedural suppression. “This is not expected from a senior advocate. Do not try to play tricks with the court,” Justice Chakraborty warned according to the LiveLaw report. Yet, despite these procedural hiccups, the Court refused to dismiss the matter and insisted on detailed disclosures, recognizing the larger human rights issues at stake.

Odisha: Mass detentions, arbitrary identification, and partial relief

The largest cluster of arrests took place in Odisha, where between June and July 2025, 447 Bengali-speaking migrant workers, most of them masons, daily-wage labourers, or street vendors from districts such as Birbhum, Murshidabad, and South 24 Parganas, were rounded up by police, particularly in Jharsuguda, Khurda, and nearby districts. According to a Scroll report, at least 403 detainees have since been released after sustained legal, political, and administrative pressure—but dozens remain in custody, often on specious grounds.

Multiple detainees testified that police refused to accept Aadhaar, voter ID, or even ration cards as legitimate identification. Instead, they were asked to produce birth and school certificates, often impossible for migrant workers who left their villages as teenagers. Others were detained simply for having Bangladeshi phone numbers saved on their mobile phones, which the police used as an alleged indicator of foreign nationality.

As provided in the TOI report, Ajimuddin Sheikh, 22, from Birbhum, was one such migrant detained during a 1 a.m. police raid near Brajarajnagar. “They seized our phones. Even when we showed voter ID and Aadhaar, they said it was not enough,” he recounted, while speaking to the TOI. His 18-year-old cousin, Nijamuddin Sheikh, added that they were interrogated repeatedly, their phones scanned for Bangladeshi contacts, and only released after producing additional documentation and being vouched for by a local guarantor.

Trinamool MP Samirul Islam, who chairs the West Bengal Migrant Workers Welfare Board, confirmed that most of those detained had been working in Odisha legally for several years. He lambasted the Odisha Police for refusing to accept Indian documents and treating labourers like foreign infiltrators. “There is no law that says a Bengali-speaking labourer cannot work in another Indian state,” he said, as per The Indian Express.

Despite some relief after the High Court sought explanations, Islam and MP Mahua Moitra warned that the mass profiling of Bengali-speaking workers is far from over—and that several youth still remain in custody.

Chhattisgarh: From detention to forced repatriation

In Kondagaon, Chhattisgarh, nine Bengali-speaking masons, residents of Krishnanagar in West Bengal, were picked up on July 12 from a school construction site, The Hindu reported. Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra revealed that despite possessing valid documents and being recruited through a verified contractor, the men were detained, denied contact with their families, and allegedly put on buses and sent back to Bengal—without any court order authorizing their removal, reported by TOI.

The Chhattisgarh Police claimed that the men failed to register with local authorities and were detained under preventive sections of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), India’s new criminal procedure code. However, according to IE, Moitra questioned why they were not given access to legal counsel, why their phones were confiscated, and why families were not informed. A habeas corpus petition has now been filed in the Chhattisgarh High Court.

Maharashtra: Matua community targeted, identity cards ignored

In Pune, members of the Matua community, a Dalit religious minority of Bengali origin, were detained by Maharashtra Police on suspicions of being undocumented migrants, according to TOI. Samirul Islam reported that despite furnishing Aadhaar, voter ID, and certificates from the All India Matua Mahasangha, detainees were not released.

Shockingly, even children were among those picked up, and police reportedly refused to recognize documents issued by the AIMM, as per the report. TMC leaders expressed dismay that Santanu Thakur, a BJP MP and Union Minister who himself belongs to the Matua community, remained silent in the face of persecution of his own constituents.

Delhi and Gurugram: Crackdown in the capital

In Delhi, as reported by India Today, the TMC has led a series of protests in Jai Hind Colony, Vasant Kunj, a settlement housing hundreds of Bengali-speaking migrant workers. Despite valid documentation, residents say they have been targeted with evictions, electricity and water cutoffs, and routine harassment by police.

Meanwhile, in Gurugram, at least 26 Bengali-speaking workers from Assam were detained and interrogated over two days. Though eventually released, they alleged that voter ID and Aadhaar cards were rejected and that Muslim workers were disproportionately targeted.

Forced pushbacks and international law violations

Civil rights groups and legal experts have expressed alarm at what appears to be a coordinated “pushback” policy being implemented quietly across multiple states, allegedly under a Union-led directive. According to investigative reports, more than 2,000 persons have been forced across the Indo-Bangladesh border since the initiation of “Operation Sindoor”, which was a military operation ostensibly targeting cross-border terror camps but now being linked to mass civilian expulsions.

These deportations, without legal adjudication, without access to lawyers or courts, and based on profiling, stand in clear violation of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution and India’s obligations under international human rights law, particularly the principle of non-refoulement.

West Bengal Pushes Back: Legal action, street protests, and a linguistic defiance campaign

The West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has mounted one of the strongest political and legal responses yet to the ongoing crackdown on Bengali-speaking migrants across BJP-ruled states. Calling it a “coordinated campaign to erase Bengali identity from the Indian Union,” Banerjee’s administration has launched a multi-pronged resistance: taking the fight to the courts, to Parliament, to civil society, and most strikingly, to the streets.

1. Legal interventions and habeas petitions

West Bengal’s legal machinery was among the first to intervene after news broke in late May and June that Indian citizens, including women and minors, had allegedly been pushed across the Indo-Bangladesh border by Assam and Maharashtra Police.

According to The Telegraph, Maktoob, and Indian Express, the State of West Bengal has taken a proactive legal and administrative stance in ongoing cases concerning the wrongful detention and deportation of Bengali-speaking migrants. It has challenged detentions and deportations carried out without Foreigners Tribunal orders or judicial oversight, particularly in cases where individuals possessed valid Indian documents. The Calcutta High Court has repeatedly flagged these incidents as potentially illegal and directed the State to respond. In compliance, the West Bengal government has dispatched state police and administrative teams to states such as Odisha and Maharashtra to trace missing persons, facilitate their release, and assist with documentation, including the recording of victim testimonies. The State has also filed multiple status reports before the Calcutta High Court, detailing repatriation efforts and procedural violations. Acting on judicial direction, the Chief Secretary has appointed a nodal officer to liaise with the governments of other states and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure coordinated response mechanisms and prevent further unlawful detentions.

2. Political Leadership: Mamata’s “I will speak more in Bengali” challenge

Mamata Banerjee has not only condemned the raids as unconstitutional but also reframed the issue as a battle for linguistic dignity. On July 16, during a mass rally in central Kolkata, she declared: “I dare you to send me to a detention camp, I will speak more in Bengali,” and “Altogether 1,000 migrant workers have been arrested and detained in BJP-ruled states and many have been pushed back to Bangladesh. People from Birbhum, Cooch Behar, Nadia and other districts are being detained in Odisha and BJP-ruled states,” she said, according to the Economic Times.

Addressing a massive public gathering during the protest march, as reported by Hindustan Times, Mamata Banerjee said, “The BJP calls all Bengali-speaking people Bangladeshi Rohingyas… Rohingyas live in Myanmar. Here, all citizens of West Bengal have proper ID cards and identification. The labourers who have gone outside Bengal have not gone on their own. They have been employed because they have skills… Anyone who speaks Bengali is being arrested and put behind bars. Why? Is West Bengal not a part of India?”

3. Administrative support for victims and families

The West Bengal government has taken several concrete steps to support affected families and challenge interstate detentions:

• Interstate coordination mandated by Court: On direction from the Calcutta High Court, the West Bengal Chief Secretary has appointed a nodal officer to liaise with states like Odisha and Delhi, ensuring the identification and release of Bengali-speaking migrants detained without due process, according to LiveLaw.
• Chief Secretary’s objection to profiling: Chief Secretary Manoj Pant sent a formal letter to the Odisha government objecting to the detention of migrants who had valid Indian documents and condemning demands for ancestral land records as arbitrary and discriminatory, as per Indian Express.
• Verification of migrants across states: Bengal Police has undertaken a large-scale verification drive across multiple states, including Odisha, Maharashtra, and Delhi, covering over 750 cases of suspected wrongful detention. Officials have relied on a mix of local documentation (e.g., ration cards, land deeds, school certificates) to authenticate identity, according to the reports of TOI.
• Interstate legal cell under consideration: According to government officials cited in press briefings, the Home Department may establish a dedicated interstate legal response cell to track migrant-related detentions, deportations, and facilitate legal aid across borders, as provided by New Indian Express.

4. National advocacy

Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu, demanding her intervention in the said situation. In the said memorandum, as reported by IE, the former Congress MP wrote: “It’s very sad and cruel fact that Bengali-speaking daily wage labourers, who are bonafide Indian citizens, are being targeted due to their physical appearance and accent, which is being mistaken for that of Bangladeshis. This similarity is being used as a pretext to harass, humiliate, physically assault, and hold these innocent people in detention.”

Chowdhury emphasised that these labourers are not only Indian citizens, but also contributors to the national economy. “Now, they are being rendered unemployed, homeless, and stateless,” he said, urging the President to step in to protect citizens from communal profiling and unlawful deportations.

Conclusion: Language on trial, citizenship in crisis

The targeting of Bengali-speaking migrants across Indian states has transformed from isolated administrative excesses into a full-blown constitutional crisis. At its core, this moment tests the strength of India’s federal framework, the sanctity of citizenship, and the basic right to dignity regardless of region, religion, or language. When Indian citizens with valid documents are detained, deported, or denied recognition simply for speaking Bengali, it sets a dangerous precedent—not just for Bengalis, but for all linguistic and regional minorities.

The pushback from the Calcutta High Court, the West Bengal government, and sections of civil society has sparked a vital resistance against arbitrary profiling and extra-legal state action. Yet the broader question remains: will the Union government address the growing pattern of exclusionary policies, or allow language and identity to become fault lines for discrimination?

India was envisioned as a pluralistic democracy where diversity is a foundation, not a fault. The events unfolding today demand urgent legal, political, and moral clarity. The road ahead will determine whether that vision endures—or whether silence enables a slow erosion of constitutional protections, starting with those who speak Bengali.

Related:

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‘Define Special Intensive Revision scope… make it clear not linked to citizenship’: BJP ally TDP writes to CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Bengali Migrant Workers Detained in Odisha: Calcutta High Court demands answers, seeks coordination between states

Bengali-Speaking Migrants Detained En Masse in Odisha: National security or targeted persecution?

Bordering on illegality? 18 alleged Bangladeshis “pushed back” without due process, Legal challenge filed in High Court

SC: ECI’s ‘wisdom’ on revision of electoral rolls challenged, does a disenfranchisement crisis loom over Bihar, with thousands being declared ‘‘D’ (doubtful) voters?

The post Under Siege for Speaking Bengali: Detentions, deportations and a rising pushback against the targeting of Bengali migrant workers across India appeared first on SabrangIndia.

A Division Bench comprising Justices Tapabrata Chakraborty and Reetobroto Kumar Mitra was hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Rajjak Sk., the father of Sainur Islam, a migrant worker employed in Jagatsinghpur, Odisha. According to the plea, Sainur was picked up by Odisha police during a “special identification drive” and has not been seen or heard from since. The petitioner claims no formal arrest intimation or case details have been shared with the family, raising grave concerns about arbitrary detention and denial of constitutional rights.

“Where are the migrant workers now? On what basis were they detained? Has any action been taken against them?” the court asked while hearing the case, as reported by LiveLaw.

Appearing for the petitioner, Advocate Raghunath Chakraborty submitted that the young man, like many others from Bengal, had travelled to Odisha in search of work and had been rounded up solely because he spoke Bengali. It was alleged that he was held beyond 24 hours without being produced before a magistrate—an act in direct violation of Article 22 of the Constitution and settled law under DK Basu v. State of West Bengal.

The Court was also informed that such detentions are part of a disturbing pattern. Senior Advocate Kalyan Banerjee, who appeared in support of the petitioner, cited recent instances of Bengali-speaking labourers facing similar treatment in other states, including Assam, where language and appearance are being used as grounds to presume foreign nationality.

Taking note of these submissions, the Bench observed that the allegations raised serious questions of fundamental rights violations and could not be brushed aside simply because the alleged illegal detention took place outside West Bengal. “This Court cannot remain a silent spectator,” the judges said, affirming the maintainability of the petition under Article 226 of the Constitution, which empowers High Courts to issue writs, including habeas corpus, even in cases where detention occurs outside their territorial jurisdiction.

“This Court has the power to issue writs including habeas corpus under Article 226 of the Constitution of India which allows it to address violations of fundamental rights, even if the detention occurred in another State.”

“In view of the nature of allegations made, prima facie, we are of the opinion that the writ petition is maintainable and this Court cannot be a silent spectator. The authorities need to be directed to produce all relevant documents to enable this Court to infer as to whether Sainur had been illegally detained.”

Before passing any formal directions to the Odisha authorities, the Court framed six pointed questions that must be answered:

1. “Whether Sainur had been detained or is missing?”
2. “If detained, whether such detention is in connection with any Court’s order?”

• “If detained, what are the grounds towards such detention?”

1. “Whether Sainur had been detained upon informing him of the specific grounds for his arrest?”
2. “Whether Sainur’s arrest is related to any investigation being conducted by the Odisha police authorities or the officials of the State?”
3. “Whether there has been any correspondence between the authorities of the State of West Bengal and the authorities of the State of Odisha?”

To facilitate an inter-state response, the Court directed the Chief Secretary of West Bengal to appoint a nodal officer to coordinate directly with the Chief Secretary of Odisha, transmit the Court’s queries, and ensure submission of all relevant documents before the Bench by the next date of hearing.

“For compliance of the order and for placement of all necessary instructions and documents before this Court on the returnable date, we direct the Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal to coordinate with the Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha.”

West Bengal Advocate General Kishore Dutta, appearing for the state, assured the Court that the government would extend full support to the affected workers and engage with the Odisha administration to resolve the issue. The Bench expressed its expectation that both states would act swiftly and transparently.

The matter will next be taken up on Monday, July 14, 2025, at 12:00 noon, when the Court expects detailed responses and documentary evidence from both states.

As the order was passed in open court in the presence of the Advocate General, the Bench clarified that no further communication is required from the petitioner to West Bengal officials. However, a server copy of the order must be served upon the first three respondents in the case, with an affidavit of service filed on record before the returnable date.

The complete order may be read below.

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The post Bengali Migrant Workers Detained in Odisha: Calcutta High Court demands answers, seeks coordination between states appeared first on SabrangIndia.

As these elderly persons can barely look after their own needs, these children get neglected. They do not go to school and roam around aimlessly. Tragedy struck twice recently as three such children of this hamlet were drowned, two in a pond and one in a canal. This caused widespread distress in the hamlet.

Urmila, a deeply sensitive dalit woman of this village was already involved with a voluntary organization Vidya Dham Samiti (VDS). With its help she decided to open an informal school in which these children could come get some education and care.

For over a year now she has been teaching these children for about two hours per day. Depending on the migration cycle, the number of children who attend this school can range from 20 to 35. The school hours were 4 to 6 earlier but with the onset of winter have been changed from to 3 to 5.

Urmila is one of the very few women here who is a graduate. She divides children according to age group and teaches them the basics of English, Hindi and Math. Saturday being sports day is eagerly awaited. Keeping in view the recent tragedies, children are alerted regarding safety precautions. They also learn about good health and hygiene.

Urmila has not yet been able to arrange a room or properly covered place for her small school, so rainy days sometimes become off days while occasionally someone provides a covered place. She hopes that some more durable solution can be found soon.

Meanwhile Urmila has already succeeded in integrating some of her students in the mainstream school, although problems caused by the frequent migration of their parents will persist.

Urmila gets a lot of affection from children, as is evident from the fact that those going to the mainstream school still insist on coming to her school too. Urmila does not believe in punishing children. When these children or their grandparents experience any serious health or other problems, Urmila tries to arrange some help from neighbours, or from VDS and its sister organization Chingari.

Several such schools have been started by VDS without having any project support for this by raising small donations. These can play a particularly important in villages where migration levels are high, or where there are very high levels of poverty and the nearest school is some distance away and the path is not safe. Such informal schools may not be adequate for meeting educational needs, but these fulfil an important need. To explore various options, in one such school nutrition is also provided, despite the difficulties faced in this due to the non-availability of any project funds.

For the school in Missouri village a beautiful small bamboo room has been created near a lotus pond for the children who assemble here for about two hours every day for education. Here some nutrition is also provided on daily basis. Jitendra, the teacher in this school, is a talented youth of this village. One of his arms was crushed in an accident, but several people say that this accident was deliberately caused by a dabang (ruthless person) of the village who was angry with Jitendra for being assertive. Jitendra remains very quiet but his mother was very agitated when I spoke to her. Jitendra is very committed to teaching children, even though only a small honorarium could be arranged for him. Coming to meetings and inter-acting with many people has given him a new confidence and he has also re-joined his own education along with teaching children.

Even at a very small scale, such efforts have given heart-warming results which testify to the eagerness of children themselves to have at least some access to education. One hopes that with more support becoming available, these efforts will be able to expand and improve in the near future.

Bharat Dogra is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Protecting Earth for Children, Man over Machine and A Day in 2071.  

Courtesy: CounterCurrents.org

The post Taking Care of Children of Migrant Workers appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Hungry cannot wait”. The bench has also directed states to file an affidavit detailing the identification of eligible persons who have yet to receive ration cards.

The bench in its order directed that “all such persons who are eligible (entitled for Ration Cards/ food grains as per the NFSA) and have been identified as such by the respective States/Union Territories, must be issued Ration Cards before 19.11.2024. They shall also be provided with the food grains forthwith.”

However, the bench restrained itself from issuing contempt notices and granted last chance to the Central and State Governments to comply with its direction issued in this regard and the previous order of the court.

Background and importance of the case

In year 2020, when nation-wide lockdown was imposed due to Covid-19 on March 25, 2020, the Supreme Court of India took suo-moto cognizance on May 26, 2020 over the problems and miseries of Migrant Labours who were stranded in different part of the country. In which the three-judge bench, consisting Justices Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M.R expressed their concern with the lack of food and water provided by the administration while they are stranded or traveling along highways. While taking cognizance over the crisis of migrant labourers during the situation of lockdown, the bench directed the Centre and State Governments to provide adequate arrangements, immediately food and shelters free of costs to the migrant workers affected and issued notice to the Union and all the States to submit their response.

Later, the suo moto proceedings before the Supreme Court has been expanded to provide Ration Cards to migrant and unorganised labourers, who are registered in the e-Sharm portal of the Government of India but do not have ration cards and to those not covered under the NFSA on grounds that the right to food is protected under Article 21.

On June 29, 2021, the division bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and M.R. Shah while disposing the suo moto petition “ In Re Problems and Miseries of Migrant Labourers”, underscored that the Right to Life as guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution and gives right to every human being to live a life of dignity with access to at-least the bare necessities of life and to provide food security to impoverished persons is the bounden duty of all States and Governments.

The concern regarding no-supply of dry ration to large section of migrant workers, who are not covered under the National Food Security Act, 2013 and who do not possess a ration card, raised by the intervenor, Advocate Prashant Bhushan before the Court. Following this, the bench through its judgement dated June 29, 2021 directed the Centre and States government to provide dry ration to those who have been identified as beneficiary under National Food Security Act, 2013 as per the Centre and States’ Schemes. The bench also stated that in event, a migrant labour is covered under the National Food Security Act, 2013 and had been issued a ration card under the Act, he is entitled to access the dry ration wherever he is, at his work place also, in accordance with scheme of the Central Government namely “One Nation One Ration Card”.

The bench issued the following eight directions to the Centre and States governments: –

1. Direction to the Central Government to develop the portal in consultation with National Information Centre (NIC) for registration of the unorganized labours/migrant workers and the process of registration of the unorganized labourers/migrant workers is completed at the earliest, but not later than 31.12.2021.
2. Directed the Central Government, Department of Food and Public Distribution (Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution) to allocate and distribute food grains as per demand of additional food-grains from the States for disbursement of dry food grains to migrant labourers.
3. Directed the States to bring in place an appropriate scheme for distribution of dry ration to migrant labourers for which it shall be open for States to ask for allocation of additional food grains from the Central Government, which, as directed above, shall provide the additional food grains to the State.
4. The State who have not yet implemented “One Nation One Ration Card” Scheme are directed to implement the same before 31.07.2021.
5. The Central Government may undertake exercise under Section 9 of the National Food Security Act, 2013 to re-determine the total number of persons to be covered under the Rural and Urban areas of the State.
6. All the States/Union Territories to register all establishments and license all contractors under the Act, 1979 and ensure that statutory duty imposed on the contractors to give particulars of migrant workers is fully complied with.
7. The State/Union Territories are directed to run community kitchens at prominent places where large number of migrant labourers are found for feeding those migrant labourers who does not have sufficient means to procure two meals a day. The running of the community kitchen should be continued at-least till pandemic (Covid-19) continues. (Para 80 of the Supreme Court judgement dated June 29, 2021)

The judgement of Supreme Court dated June 29, 2021 may be read here

Subsequent Orders by the Supreme Court

On April 18, 2022, the division bench of Justices M. R. Shah and B. V. Nagarathna directed the Union government to file a compliance report on the directions passed on June 29, 2021. Subsequently, the same bench on July 21, 2022 asked the Union to come out with a scheme/policy to ensure that the benefits under the NFSA are not restricted as per the 2011 census as the right to food is a fundamental right and restricting anyone would cause injustice. The bench observed that NFSA scope requires to be re-determined and asked the Central Government to take appropriate steps to remedy the situation

In January 2023, the same bench revisited the matter and while hearing the Miscellaneous Application No. 94/2022 in SMW(C) No. 6/2020 filed by activists Harsh Mander, Anjali Bharadwaj and Jagdeep Chhokar alleging non-compliance by Union and certain States with the Court’s directions issued in 2021, to provide dry ration, open community kitchens for migrant workers stranded in NCR, the bench directed the Union and State governments to inform whether the 28.60 crores migrants/unorganised workers registered on the E-Shram portal are having the ration cards? And whether all of them are given the benefit of food under the NFSA?

Subsequently, On April 20, 2023, the division bench of Justices M.R. Shah and Ahsanuddin Amanullah on the basis of the information provided by the Union, observed that 28.60 crores migrants/unorganized workers are registered on the e-Shram portal which is a commendable job. However, out of 28.60 registrants on e-Shram 20.63 crores are registered on ration card data. Meaning thereby, the rest registrants on e-Shram are still without ration cards. Without the ration card a migrant/unorganized labourer or his family members may be deprived of the benefit of the schemes and may be the benefit under the National Food Security Act. The bench directed state governments to grant ration cards to migrant or unorganized workers who do not have them but are registered on the centre’s e-Shram portal, within three months. This portal is primarily made for enrolment, registration, collection, and identification of the required data of all unorganized workers.

SC directed to issue ration cards to 8 crore migrant workers in March, 2024

On March 19, 2024, the bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah directed the State Governments and Union Territories to grant ration cards to 8 crore workers within two months to the unorganised sector who, despite being registered under the centre’s e-Shram portal and do not have these ration cards. The bench added that at the e-KYC of all 8 crore ration cardholders that are required to be updated must not come in the way of the issuance of ration cards.

Subsequently, on September 2, 2024, the Supreme Court’s division bench of Justices C.T. Ravikumar and Sanjay Karol, directed the Additional Solicitor General, Aishwarya Bhati to file an affidavit with respect to the steps taken so far and to comply with the directions of the court in the main judgement passed on June 29, 2021 and the subsequent orders passed by the court. The bench further directed that this exercise shall be done within a period of three weeks.

Patience may be a virtue, but ours is nearing its end: SC

The Supreme Court through its order dated October 10, 2024 has run out of patience with States that have failed to provide ration cards to migrant workers despite identification of number of beneficiaries. The bench expressed that “Patience may be a virtue – but ours is nearing its end”

In a stern warning, the court has given them a final deadline of November 19, 2024, to issue the Ration cards.  The bench directed that “for the States where in spite of identification, Ration Cards have not been issued on or before 19.11.2024, the concerned Secretary/IES (Food and Civil Supplies) shall remain present in person before this Court on the next date of hearing, to explain as to why Ration Cards have not been issued despite the identification, and in spite of repeated orders in this regard.”

“Why Ration Cards have not been issued despite the identification, and in spite of repeated orders in this regard?”

The bench further directed that if States fail to comply, the concerned secretaries of Food and Civil Supplies will have to appear in person before the court to explain the delay on the next hearing.

The matter is listed on 19.11.2024 for next hearing

The order of the Supreme Court dated 04.10.2024 may be read here

However, the Supreme Court’s suo moto proceedings, initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide rations to migrant workers, have now been expanded to cover migrant and unorganized labourers registered on the Government of India’s e-Shram portal who lack ration cards. This move also aims to benefit those not protected under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), based on the principle that the right to food is safeguarded by Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.

Now the issue revolves around the National Food Security Act (NFSA), which restricts the number of persons eligible for ration cards. However, the court has made it clear that the right to food is a fundamental right and should not be restricted.

The court’s directive emphasizes that hungry individuals cannot wait, and it’s imperative to ensure food security for all, regardless of their eligibility under the NFSA. While underscoring the importance of the issue and the objective embedded under the National Food Security Act, the Supreme Court has ordered states to verify and provide ration cards to eligible migrant workers and unskilled labourers registered on the e-Shram portal. The Supreme Court’s suo moto action on issuing ration cards to migrant workers represents a significant step in safeguarding the right to food, as enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution. By addressing the plight of those registered on the e-Shram portal but lacking access to essential resources, the Court underscores the government’s responsibility to protect vulnerable populations through judicial power.

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The post “Hungry Cannot Wait”: SC sets final deadline for Ration Cards to Migrant Workers appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The eviction has left approximately 400 daily wage workers, primarily involved in waste segregation and originally from West Bengal, struggling to address their grievances. As per the report, a formal complaint with the State police chief have been filed by the victims. The said complaint provides that the Bannerghatta police arrived with earthmovers, destroyed six homes, and disconnected the power supply, all under the pretence of removing illegal immigrants. Furthermore, abusing their power, the police allegedly also threatened the residents with severe consequences if they resisted.

As per the report, a resident claimed they had valid documents proving their citizenship and residency of West Bengal and had attempted to communicate this to the police, however the same was to no avail. The resident further provided that they had paid rent for the land and constructed their homes, which have now been demolished. R. Kaleemulla, an activist with Swaraj Abhiyan, stated that the demolition was unlawful and contravened several High Court and Supreme Court rulings.

The complaint filed with the State police chief also highlighted that the demolition followed a report from a Kannada news channel falsely accusing the residents of being illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. The residents have informed the West Bengal government of the situation and are demanding accountability for the police officials involved in the eviction and for the news channel that broadcasted the misleading report.

Speaking to SabrangIndia, R. Kaleemulla stated that the condition of the Bengali migrants living in Bengaluru is very grave, they spend each day under fear of being falsely deemed as “illegal Bangladeshis” and facing ill-treatment at the hands of the state police. R. Kaleemulla provided that the victims had shown their valid documents but it made no difference to the police. It was further alleged by R. Kaleemulla that the police were acting in fear of the Kannada news channel, namely Republic TV, while taking action against the migrants. R. Kaleemulla also highlighted that a news reporter Naveen Shetty and a cameraman from Republic TV Kannada channel had accompanied the police officials, including the Inspector of Bannergatta Police Station one Mr. Krishnamurti bulldozers, and JCBs, while the houses were being demolished at the S. Bingipura colony. The channel had even taken the live coverage of the demolition.

As claimed by R. Kaleemulla, the reporter was heard stating that the police were taking action against “illegal Bengladeshi” migrants. Referring to the documentations being presented by the migrants, the reporter had allegedly claimed that “these documents were falsely claimed by these Bangladeshi illegals by entering the state of West Bengal.”

The video of the coverage by Republic TV Kannada can be viewed here:

As per R. Kaleemulla, the news report in question by Republic TV amounts to hate speech and incitement of violence and discrimination against these families. He told SabrangIndia that the action of the media personnel not only violates the fundamental rights of these individuals but also undermines the social fabric of our diverse and pluralistic society.

1. Kaleemulla also shared pictures of the documents that were held by the migrants there.

On August 1, 2024, a memorandum was also submitted by activists with Swaraj Abhiyan and members of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties to the Director General of Police of the state of Karnataka, highlighting the details of the incident and the unjust manner in which the migrants were targeted by the police.

In the memorandum submitted, it has been stated “We are writing to bring to your urgent attention a grave violation of the rights and liberties of about 70 families, comprising approximately 400 persons, who hail from Village Uttar Kodalia, PS Basirhat, West Bengal, and currently reside in a colony at S. Bingipura, coming under within the jurisdiction of Bannerghatta Police Station, Bangalore, Karnataka. We would like to bring to your attention that these 400 residents are residing on private property as tenants. Furthermore, all these individuals, primarily engaged in manual labor and scavenging, and considering their socio-economic backwardness are facing severe persecution and injustice at the hands of police and media personnel.”

Details of the destruction caused by were also provided, by stating “Furthermore, the JCB bulldozer was used to destroy 6 homes and community buildings, and further, the electricity supply to the houses in the colony was disconnected, at the instance of the Banerghatta Police. This act of demolition by the police is illegal and inhuman. It is outside of the jurisdiction of the police to initiate and carry out such demolition of houses on private property. This demolition has affected the children education, the health of the residents and caused severe stress to all the residents. These families are genuine Indian citizens from West Bengal who have migrated to Bangalore for livelihood opportunities. Each one of them has an Aadhar Card, Voter ID and Pan Card as proof of their citizenship. They are being unjustly targeted and subjected to threats of persecution, imprisonment, displacement, and deportation solely due to their religious beliefs and language barrier.”

As per the memorandum, the said demolition and eviction led to violations of Constitutional provisions of Article 14, 19, 21 and 25. In addition to this, the police also cause violation of Rule of Law and Right to Livelihood.

The memorandum also highlighted an order of the Karnataka High Court, in the case of Peoples Union for Civil Liberties Karnataka v. State Of Karnataka (WP 1285/20200), wherein a similar circumstance had been argued before the Court.  A demolition of shelters at the instance of the Police officials of Marathahalli Police officials had taken place, which were similarly based on the unsubstantiated apprehension of residents being Bangladeshi and baseless news reports. During the case, the Court had come down strictly on the Police officials and through its order dated February 10, 2020 had held that the Police action was in gross violation of Article 21 of the constitution. The court had then consequently directed State government to implement a comprehensive rehabilitation scheme featuring temporary as well as permanent measures and along with that pay compensation the evicted residents.

The memorandum had then stated that the present act of the state police is not only violative of the fundamental rights of the victims, but also the order of the Court.

The complete memorandum can be viewed here:

To condemn the incident, a short report had also been written by Jai kisan Andholan Advocate Avik Saha on July 31. He had addressed the said report to Ms. Dola Sen, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, West Bengal. The same is as follows:

“Respected MP Sen,

Attack on Life, Liberty & Fundamental Rights of Indian Citizens from West Bengal at P. Bengipur Colony, Police Station Bannerghatta, Bangalore, Karnataka – Request for Highlighting Issue in Parliament and Action

About 70 families comprising of about 400 persons hailing from Village Uttar Kodalia, PS Basirhat, West Bengal reside at a colony at P. Bengipur, Police Station Bannerghatta, Bangalore, Karnataka. These persons are mostly manual workers and scavengers.

Yesterday, 30th July, 2024, some right wing news channels along with police force, bulldozers and JCBs came to the colony and started threatening the families saying that they are Bangladeshis and their identities as Indian citizens are fake. Some houses and community buildings were destroyed with bulldozers and electricity supply to the houses was disconnected. Videos and photos of the incident and interviews with the resident of the colony are attached to this message.

The fact is that all these persons are Indian citizens hailing from West Bengal and are living in Bangalore for their livelihood and are being constantly threatened with persecution, imprisonment, displacement, and pushback only because of their religious beliefs. The contact person for this group is Rehana Khatun who is being assisted by a local person, R Kaleemullah.

We request you to kindly inform the government of West Bengal about the torture and suffering of these families from West Bengal so that appropriate action can be taken at government-to-government level with the Govt. of Karnataka.

We further request you to kindly raise this issue in Parliament to highlight how Indian citizens are being tortured and persecuted by the right wing forces only because they belong to the minority community.

We will be grateful for your kind intervention and help in this matter.”

As provided by R. Kaleemulla, the West Bengal government is constantly in touch with the Karnataka government and is taking all the necessary steps to protect the migrants being evicted. At the time of the filing of this story, the eviction drive had been paused.

It is essential to note that this is not the first time that migrants in Bengaluru have been deemed to be “Illegal Bangladeshi Migrants”. A similar situation had arisen in Bengaluru in June of 2022 when a police search unit burst into a waste segregation centre overflowing with plastic waste, alongside which nearly 40 people lived in corrugated iron sheds with no sewers or electricity, and poor Bengali migrants were targeted by the state police. As per a report of Article 14, Bengali Muslim migrants living in ramshackle slums alongside the glass-and-steel buildings of Electronics City, were harassed in police sweeps in search of illegal Bangladeshi migrants and had their lives upended. Despite identity proofs—some illegally procured, according to the police—including an income-tax filing in one case, many face harassment and days in police lockups, a violation of their rights.

Awareness by R. Kaleemullah and Rosline Gomes activists from Bangalore, Swaraj Abhiyan

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The SP of Williamnagar, East Garo Hills has called it a case of ‘rivalry’ between car lifters and cattle thieves, according to Guwahati Plus.  According to the report, the police have stated that a vehicle, which had gone missing, was found within a dense forest near Link Road that connects Rogu Alda village in East Garo Hills District. It was found approximately 1.5 km from NH-217. Upon visiting the scene, the police located the missing vehicle burnt amidst the forest. During a search of the area, law enforcement found a freshly dug pit filled with newly turned soil nearby. The officials dug the pit and discovered the burned bodies.

According to the police, one of the victims, Zahidul Islam has been involved in a case of car theft in Dudhnoi and Krishnai and Jamor Ali is reportedly involved in cattle theft cases in Assam.

This is not the first incident of workers being killed in the state. According to the Indian Express, March 27 witnessed two non-tribal workers being killed in the state in Ichamati, which is near the Bangladesh border. Two men from the Khasi Students’ Union were arrested in the matter.

As per the report, two weeks after this incident, one 52 year old Arjjun Ray was also killed after three workers were beaten with rods in the state in April in Mawlai Mawroh. An FIR was reportedly filed but as per the report, no arrests were made at the time.

Meanwhile, the chief minister of Meghalaya, Conrad Sangma has condemned the burning of the youth from Assam and has urged the people of Assam and Meghalaya to not resort to vigilante justice, “I vehemently condemn this heinous act of violence. Such actions have no place in our society and stand as a grave violation of our shared humanity.” He has also assured that the authorities have started the investigation without any delay.

The Meghalaya Human Rights commission has also meanwhile sought for a report on the killings of the three young men. The human rights body has issued a notice to the DGP to send them  a report on the action taken in connection to the incident within a month, according to Times of India.

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