Malda, April 16 -- Seventeen migrant workers from Harishchandrapur have been detained on suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals in Odisha, which has triggered sharp political reactions in Malda district, with tensions escalating on Wednesday afternoon as the BJP state president faced protests from Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers.
According to family members, the workers-engaged in hawking goods such as garments and household items in Odisha's Belagutha area-were detained on Tuesday night despite allegedly producing valid identity documents. Many of them were scheduled to return home to vote, with train tickets already booked.
"Yesterday morning, my husband told me that the police had collected their documents. Later at night, I heard that they had been detained. Is speaking in Bengali a crime?" said Monowara Bibi, wife of one of the detained workers.
The issue quickly snowballed into a political flashpoint. TMC leaders alleged that the BJP-ruled Odisha government deliberately targeted Bengali-speaking workers to prevent them from voting. "This is a conspiracy to suppress voters.
If they are not released immediately, we will launch a mass movement," a local TMC leader said.
Amid this backdrop, tension flared in Harishchandrapur when Bhattacharya's convoy was stopped near the bus stand by protesting TMC supporters while he was on his way to a party meeting. Police and central forces intervened promptly, preventing the situation from escalating.
Earlier, Bhattacharya had addressed a rally at Barui High School ground in the Chanchal Assembly Constituency. Reacting briefly to the protest, he said: "It's good that people are expressing themselves," without commenting on the detention issue.
The BJP, however, strongly condemned the protests. Party MP Khagen Murmu accused the ruling party of intimidation. "The Trinamool Congress is scared and that is why they are resorting to such tactics,"
he alleged.
He also reiterated: "Those who are illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators have no place here and will be sent back."
Echoing similar concerns, BJP leader Pawan Chakraborty raised questions over law and order during the incident.
On the other hand, Saheb Das, block president of TMC labour wing, claimed: "The BJP has lost ground in Bengal. That is why they are targeting our voters in other states."
When contacted, Chanchal Sub-Divisional Officer Ritwik Hazra said: "I am not yet aware of the full details. We are looking into the matter."
With elections approaching, the controversy over migrant workers has intensified political confrontation, turning Harishchandrapur into a key battleground.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.