After Jajpur, fresh detentions of Bengal migrants in Odisha

Around 16 migrant workers from Murshidabad district's Lalgola, Borjumla, Panditpur and Jangipur areas were allegedly detained by the Kendrapara Police in Odisha on Tuesday night, after being labelled as Bangladeshis. A similar incident had happened in Odisha's Jajpur on Tuesday when 11 migrants were allegedly detained and tortured . However, they were released on Wednesday.

"The 16 migrant workers have been kept in a school Kendrapara since Tuesday midnight. All these workers hail from Murshidabad districts and have been working as construction workers in Odisha for a long time," Walid SK, who is a contractor from Murshidabad, told ET. "I am on my way to Odisha's Kendrapara Police Station to rescue them. They have all relevant documents, including Aadhaar and voter ID cards and other documents. Despite having the documents, they have been detained," he said.

The Parijayee Sharmik Aikya Manch (Migrant Labourer Unity Forum) has been coordinating the matter with the Murshidabad District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police in West Bengal for release of these migrant workers, forum general Secretary Asif Faruk told ET. "We have informed the DM and SP. They have promised to intervene and help in the release of the migrant workers. These Bengali-speaking migrant workers from Murshidabad have been labelled as Bangladeshis," Faruk said.


The labourers, mostly working in the construction sector, have been in Odisha from one to more than 10 years.

"My brother Pintu SK has been working in Odisha for more than ten years. He left around 20 days ago. I am also a migrant worker and travel to various states to earn a livelihood," said Pintu SK's elder brother. Pintu is a resident of Raghunathganj in Murshidabad.