Bengali Workers Face Unjust Detention in Odisha: A Call for Immediate Intervention

West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant has called upon his Odisha counterpart to address the 'harassment' of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in certain Odisha regions. In a formal communication, Pant highlighted the unwarranted detention of workers, accused of being Bangladeshis, despite having legitimate identification proving their Indian citizenship.

The workers, comprising daily-wage earners, rickshaw-pullers, and domestic helpers, are reportedly detained without due legal process. They face demands for ancestral land records, deemed unreasonable for those employed as migrant labourers. Regions affected include Paradip, Jagatsinghpur, and other coastal areas. This situation ignites a debate on such workers' constitutional rights to freely move within India.

TMC MP Samirul Islam and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stress on harmony and diversity, condemning Odisha's reluctance to accept legal documents verified by district officials. Despite Odisha's cessation of demands, police allegedly continue unauthorized detainment, raising severe human rights questions. The issue now requires serious intervention to uphold legal and humanitarian principles.

(With inputs from agencies.)