The workers were returning home to caste vote, families claim detention based on language; TMC accuses BJP of targeting migrants
BHUBANESHWAR — A political controversy has erupted after 17 migrant workers from West Bengal were detained in Odisha on suspicion of being foreign nationals, with their families alleging that the action was based on language and identity.
According to reports, the workers, all residents of Harishchandrapur in West Bengal, were working in Odisha and were preparing to return home to cast their votes in the upcoming assembly elections. However, before they could leave, they were taken into custody by the police.
Family members claimed that the workers were suspected of being Bangladeshi nationals mainly because they were speaking Bengali. One relative said, “They were only speaking their mother tongue. That cannot be a reason to treat them like outsiders.”
The incident has triggered a sharp reaction from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of targeting migrant workers for political reasons.
A TMC leader said, “These are Indian citizens. Stopping them from returning home to vote is a serious matter. We will protest strongly if this continues.”
On the other hand, leaders from the BJP maintained a firm stance on illegal immigration. A party representative said, “There is no place for illegal entrants. Verification is necessary in such cases.”
The detained workers were reportedly engaged in small trading activities, including selling clothes and other items in the Belagutha area of Odisha. Families said the police had visited them earlier to check documents and later took them into custody during the night.
So far, there has been no detailed official statement from the Odisha police clarifying the grounds of detention. The lack of clarity has added to concerns among observers about due process and the treatment of migrant workers.
A local said, “If they had documents, they should have been allowed to go. This has created fear among workers.”
The issue has also intensified political tension in West Bengal, especially in the Harishchandrapur constituency, where elections are approaching.
The incident has raised broader questions about identity, language and the rights of migrant workers, with many calling for a fair and transparent investigation into the matter.
