West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. (File Photo)
Reacting to the recent killing of a 19-year-old migrant worker from West Bengal in Odisha, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday condemned violence against Bengali-speaking people in other states.
“We strongly condemn the brutal oppression and persecution that has descended upon Bengali-speaking people in every BJP-ruled state. We stand by those oppressed, terrified, and tortured migrant Bengali-speaking families, and we will provide all kinds of support to those families,” Banerjee wrote on X.
Banerjee pledged financial compensation for the families of the deceased. “No value can compensate for human lives, but in cases where deaths have occurred, we remain committed to economic compensation,” she said.
While noting the lynching of Jewel Sheikh, 19, in Shantinagar, Odisha, Banerjee said migrant workers in Murshidabad are returning home, fearing persecution.
“Very recently, various forms of oppression have descended upon some migrant workers from the Jangipur area in the BJP-ruled Odisha state. It is extremely unfortunate that a young migrant worker from the Suti area of Jangipur was beaten to death in Sambalpur on December 24th. Migrant workers in Murshidabad are returning home terrified from Odisha. In this heartbreaking incident, we stand with the families, and our financial assistance to the family of the deceased will also reach them,” she said.
Odisha has seen a large number of detentions and assaults against Bengali-speaking people during its drive against alleged illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, with more than 500 incidents recorded.
On the evening of December 24, Sheikh, a migrant labourer from Murshidabad, was lynched in Sambalpur district of Odisha when he was returning from work.
According to one of the eight migrant workers from Murshidabad who was present during the attack, the altercation broke out at a tea stall.
“A group of people asked Jewel for a bidi. Then they started asking for Aadhaar cards and where we were from. We showed our Aadhaar cards. Suddenly, they came armed with bamboo and sticks and started beating us. Jewel was hit on the head. Others were also injured.” The attackers reportedly labelled Jewel a Bangladeshi.
He was reportedly the only earning member of his family, earning a daily wage of Rs 600. He left home on December 20.
His mortal remains reached Bahadurpur village on Friday, where thousands, including local leaders of the Trinamool Congress and Congress, were present. Six persons have been arrested in connection with the incident.
“In all these incidents in BJP-ruled states, our condemnation of the perpetrators and our promise of all kinds of help for the oppressed remain. Speaking the Bengali language cannot be a crime. In the matter of the deceased young Jewel Rana, the West Bengal Police has already filed a zero FIR at Suti Police Station, and six people have already been arrested. A police team from my state has gone to Odisha for investigation,” she added.