West Bengal Alleges Odisha Detained Its Migrant Workers, Identifying Them As 'Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants'

Trinamool Congress (TMC) has alleged that nearly 100 migrant workers from West Bengal have been detained in Odisha on suspicion of being Bangladeshis and “sent to detention centres”, according to an Indian Express report.

TMC Rajya Sabha MP and chairman of the state’s Migrant Welfare Board, Samirul Islam, said, “Top administrative officials and police officers, under the instructions of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, have reached out to their counterparts in Odisha.”

“But they are not releasing the poor migrant workers,” he asserted, adding, “What has happened is unconstitutional.”

“They are Indian citizens and residents of Bengal. They have gone to Odisha for work. But they have been detained and labelled Bangladeshis. They have been sent to the detention centre,” Islam said, adding, “We will bring them home.”

Islam further targeted the BJP-led Odisha government, stating, “In state after state, under BJP rule, this is happening.”

The dispute comes close on the heels of another controversy where seven individuals from West Bengal, detained by Maharashtra Police and allegedly pushed into Bangladesh, were recently brought back following West Bengal’s intervention.

Meanwhile, Bengal officials remain in communication with Odisha authorities and have reportedly provided residential documents to secure the release of the detained individuals.

A senior Odisha government official told Indian Express that the ongoing checks are part of a broader national verification exercise following recent security developments.

“No one is being detained at any police station. We are just verifying their identities and are also in touch with the West Bengal government,” the official clarified.

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