Bhubaneswar, Odisha: Authorities in Odisha have taken 16 migrant workers from West Bengal into custody, mistakenly identifying them as Bangladeshi nationals. All the workers are residents of Murshidabad district in West Bengal, hailing from areas such as Lalgola, Borjumla, Panditpur, and Jangipur. The Kendrapara police detained them on Tuesday night.
Workers Engaged in Construction
According to contractor Walid SK from Murshidabad, the workers have been working in Odisha’s construction sector for several years. On Tuesday, they were kept at a school in Kendrapara from midnight. Despite carrying valid identification documents including Aadhaar and voter ID cards, they were still taken into custody. Walid SK confirmed that he was on his way to the Kendrapara police station to secure their release.
Previous Incident in Jajpur
Earlier, 11 migrant workers were similarly detained in Jajpur district and reportedly tortured before being released on Wednesday.
Misinformation About Nationality
Asif Farooq, Secretary of the Migrant Workers Unity Forum, said the detained workers were being wrongly labeled as Bangladeshi because they speak Bengali. He added that the organization is working with the Murshidabad District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police to ensure the workers’ release. Officials have assured assistance in freeing the detained laborers.
Workers Move for Livelihood
Most of these migrant workers have been traveling to different states for work, some for over 10 years. Pintu SK, one of the detainees, has been working in Odisha for more than a decade, leaving home periodically to earn a living. These workers rely on inter-state migration for survival and livelihood, highlighting the challenges faced by seasonal and migrant laborers.
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