Once again, allegations of torture against Bengali migrant workers in another state have surfaced, this time on suspicion of being Bangladeshi. It is alleged that three migrant workers from Murshidabad were severely beaten in Bihar on suspicion of being Bangladeshi. Following the incident on Friday, they returned home on Saturday night, fearing for their lives. While these three managed to return, it has been reported that approximately 30-40 migrant workers from their village remain there.
According to local sources, the three migrant workers - Nasir Sheikh, Dilwar Sheikh, and Jalim Sheikh- are from Pradipdanga village under Hariharpara police station. Migrant workers from this village used to work as hawkers in the NTPC Gate No.1 area of Nabinagar in Aurangabad district, Bihar. They have all been traveling to Bihar for the past 15-20 years. They claim that despite working there as hawkers for so many years, they have never faced such an incident before.
Allegedly, last Friday in Bihar, the three went to a paan shop while out hawking. Some local individuals at the shop inquired about their place of origin. When they responded that they were from Murshidabad, West Bengal, the locals declared them Bangladeshi. They also demanded to see their Aadhaar cards. Subsequently, these local individuals allegedly snatched the keys to the migrant workers' motorcycles.
Dilwar Sheikh says, “Upon hearing we were Bengali, they suspected us of being Bangladeshi and asked to see our Aadhaar cards. When we tried to show them, they refused to look. Then they started beating us, calling us Rohingya. They inserted a bike key into my left ear. Since then, I've been experiencing pain in that ear and having difficulty hearing”.
It is alleged that another migrant worker, Nasir Sheikh, was punched in the eye, causing it to swell. Jalim Sheikh says, “We barely escaped with our lives after being beaten. But 30-40 people from our village are still there. Who can guarantee they won't be attacked when they go out to hawk? We're worried about them”.
However, these three migrant workers have not yet filed any written complaint with the Town police station. Regarding this, the migrant workers stated that since people from their village are still there, they fled without escalating the situation to avoid further complications. As news of this incident spread, it created significant unrest in the area.
On Sunday morning, under the direction of MLA Niamat Sheikh, the Humaipur area Trinamool Congress leadership visited the homes of the affected workers. They inquired about their physical condition. Trinamool's Shafikul Sheikh and Chandan Mandal informed that MLA Niamat Sheikh has apprised the party's top leadership of the entire matter. They have assured that they stand by the families of these migrant workers for any need.
