The victims claim that the action was based on suspicion of them being ‘Bangladeshi’ due to their Bengali language
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Authorities in Haryana’s Gurugram demolished the homes of approximately 300 migrant workers from West Bengal, allegedly without prior notice. The workers’ only fault, according to many, was speaking the Bengali language.
The demolition drive took place on Monday in Jharsha village, under Sadar police station in Sector 39, triggering outrage among the affected workers. Many claimed that the action was based on suspicion of them being “Bangladeshi” due to their Bengali language.
Eyewitnesses reported that four to five police vehicles surrounded the settlement before bulldozers razed the homes, leaving the affected workers to fend for themselves. The workers, who hail from districts like Nadia, Malda, and Murshidabad in West Bengal, had constructed tin-roofed shelters on vacant land, which they claimed was rented from a local owner.
These migrant workers earn their living by engaging in occupations such as rickshaw pulling, factory work, street vending, and domestic labour. Many workers believe that the demolition was driven by suspicions of them being ‘Bangladeshi’ due to their Bengali language.
Zakir Rahman, a labourer, expressed his frustration, saying, “Speaking Bengali itself has become a crime here. We were labelled as Bangladeshis without any proof.”
A worker, who was preparing to return home for the Muslim festival of Eid, described his devastation: “I had planned to celebrate with my family, but in an instant, that hope was shattered. My wife, children, and I have been living on the streets since our home was destroyed.”
Media reports said administration officials arrived with a bulldozer and ordered residents to evacuate their homes immediately. Before the workers could comprehend what was happening, the demolition began, flattening around 300 makeshift abodes.
Samad Sheikh, one of the displaced residents, said, “Police gave us just 10 minutes to vacate. When we asked for a reason, they remained silent. We requested a day, but they refused. Within moments, everything was gone.”
Nur Islam, a resident of Murshidabad’s Beldanga, moved to Gurugram with his wife, children, and ten other family members six months ago in search of work. His wife, 23-year-old Amina Khatun, shared their plight: “We were already struggling financially. There was little work in our hometown, so we came here to support our family. Now, we have nowhere to go.”
The Gurugram district administration claimed that the land belonged to the government and had been illegally encroached upon and that residents were informed in advance. However, the displaced workers strongly refuted these claims, stating that they were never given prior notice.
“We were never given prior notice,” said one labourer. “This was not about illegal encroachment; it was about targeting us as ‘Bangladeshis’.”
Mukul Hasan, a worker from Nadia’s Plassey who has been in Gurugram for 15 years, stated, “We were staying on land rented from a local owner. Why would we occupy land illegally? We were never told anything before our homes were destroyed.”
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation, with West Bengal Migrant Workers Welfare Board chairman and Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam assuring assistance to the affected families. Asif Faruk, Murshidabad district president of the Parijayee Shramik Aikya Mancha, also condemned the incident, stating that Bengali-speaking workers are being harassed across the country.
Trinamool Congress spokesperson Jayprakash Majumdar stated, “We are investigating the matter. A detailed response will follow.”
