A migrant worker from West Bengal was allegedly attacked in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday. The victim, Sayed Sheikh, is a resident of Paharpur under Bamungram gram panchayat in Kaliachak, Malda. He works as a cloth vendor in the Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh.
According to family members, the attack took place in Samnapur village under Surkhi police station on Saturday afternoon. Sheikh was returning after selling clothes when he was allegedly assaulted with sharp weapons. His money was also snatched. He is now undergoing treatment at Bundelkhand Medical College and Hospital.
Family members claim he was targeted for speaking in Bengali. They said he had gone back to Madhya Pradesh nine days ago after coming home for SIR-related work. He has been working there for nearly nine years.
Also Read | After Supreme Court directive, three-member committees set up for SIR scrutiny in West Bengal
Family alleges language-based attack
Sayed Sheikh's wife and mother said speaking Bengali often creates problems in some villages and towns in Madhya Pradesh. They alleged that he was attacked because he spoke in Bengali.
The family expressed concern over repeated reports of harassment of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in other states.
Also Read | Bengal braces for warmer days; rising temperatures, rain likely in Kolkata and coastal districts
Political reactions on attack
Shahidur Rahman, a member of the District Migrant Worker Welfare Board, condemned the incident. He alleged that workers from West Bengal are being targeted in BJP-ruled states for speaking their mother tongue.
Reacting to the claims, Ajay Ganguly, president of the BJP's Malda South organisational district, said he would not comment until full details of the incident are known. Police in Madhya Pradesh have not yet issued an official statement on the motive behind the attack.
The incident has once again raised questions about the safety of migrant workers from Bengal working in other states.
