TMC Claims Bengal’s Migrant Workers Illegally Detained, Odisha Says They Lack Valid Documents
West Bengal's TMC alleges Odisha's BJP government is illegally detaining Bengali-speaking migrant workers as suspected illegal immigrants, despite valid documents.
The TMC on Wednesday alleged that the BJP government in Odisha has illegally detained Bengali-speaking migrant workers on the pretext of identifying unauthorised immigrants, despite the labourers possessing "valid documents".
The ruling party of West Bengal demanded their immediate release and warned of a larger political movement if such “targeted harassment” continues.
A senior Odisha Police officer, however, said the detained people lack valid documents to establish their residency or citizenship.
He also said that the police are not targeting any community or region and are only ensuring the security of the country.
TMC MPs Samirul Islam, who also serves as Chairman of the Migrant Workers’ Welfare Board, and Mahua Moitra condemned the "illegal detention".
In a post on X, Moitra said, “23 workers from Nadia are being held in illegal detention in Jharsuguda. I urge @SecyChief @DGPOdisha to release them immediately.
Claiming that such incidents never happened during the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD's 24-year rule in Odisha, she said, "Do not think there is no one to fight for these workers.” In another post, Moitra said those 23 workers are from Mirzapur village under Panighata Gram Panchayat in her constituency, and they "are being illegally detained with 421 other Bengali workers at interrogation centre by Orient Police Station in Jharsuguda, Odisha, despite full documentation.
The MP of Krishnanagar Lok Sabha seat tagged Naveen Patnaik along with the DGP and the chief secretary of the neighbouring state.
According to TMC leaders, over 200 migrant workers from districts such as Nadia, Murshidabad, Malda, Birbhum, Purba Bardhaman and South 24 Parganas have been picked up in recent weeks by Odisha police and kept at interrogation centres in Jharsuguda district on suspicion of being Bangladeshis.
TMC Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam alleged that these detentions were part of a “deliberate pattern of harassment” based solely on the workers’ language and origin.
“Once again, atrocities against Bengali-speaking migrant workers continue in Odisha's Jharsuguda district. The BJP government in Odisha recently detained over 200 migrant workers from Bengal districts on suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals. This is a fresh round of detentions following the earlier confinement of hundreds,” Islam said.
“What is their fault? That they speak Bengali? What grudge do @narendramodi and @AmitShah hold against these poor Bengalis?” he asked.
The top BJP leadership seems least bothered to address the plight of these Bengali-speaking individuals, Islam claimed in the post.
"Will they at least consult with @Odisha_CMO to understand their situation? We have already moved the court. If this barbaric attitude continues, we will launch a larger movement. Our Chief Secretary has already written to the Odisha Chief Secretary. Our Chief Minister @MamataOfficial has made it clear: Bengal will not tolerate any move that causes suffering to our people working in other states,” Islam added.
Last week, West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant wrote to his Odisha counterpart, urging him to intervene and stop the alleged “harassment” of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in the state.
Responding to the charge, Himanshu Lal, IGP of Northern Range Sambalpur, said the concerns raised over the issue are understandable.
"However, safeguarding national interest and security remains paramount and cannot be compromised. The individuals under scrutiny lack valid documentation to establish their residency or citizenship, necessitating a thorough verification process to ascertain their identity," he said in a post on X.
Without verifiable documents, it is imperative to cross-check records to confirm whether individuals are Indian citizens or foreign nationals, Lal said.
The verification is being conducted meticulously by senior officials via a Joint Investigation Team, with multiple layers of scrutiny to ensure no Indian citizen is wrongfully detained or harassed, the officer said.
"These individuals are being held in designated facilities with access to adequate food, water, hygiene, and medical care, in line with humanitarian standards," Lal said.
Persons with valid documents are already returning or are in the process of going back to their place of stay, he said.
"We urge the public to refrain from speculation and trust the authorities to carry out this process transparently and fairly," the IGP said.
Intensifying its crackdown on Bangladeshis and Rohingyas living illegally in the state, Odisha Police on Tuesday held 448 people for verification of their documents.
The West Bengal BJP, however, blamed the Mamata Banerjee-led state government for the confusion over identity documentation.
“The lines between real citizens and those using forged documents have become increasingly blurred,” BJP leader Rahul Sinha said.
“Thousands of infiltrators from Bangladesh have managed to create fake papers identifying them as Bengal residents and are now roaming across the country as Indians," he added.
Jharsuguda's BJP MLA Tankadhar Tripathy said action will be taken against those found staying illegally here.
"BJD's bahu (daughter in-law) stated there were no such incidents in Odisha during its regime. We want to know BJD’s stand on illegal Bangladeshis," he said. Tripathy was alluding to Moitra’s recent marriage to former BJD MP Pinaki Mishra.
(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)
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