Arrested, tortured, forcibly deported: Plight of Muslim migrants from West Bengal
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In BJP-ruled states, particularly Maharashtra and Delhi, migrant workers from West Bengal, mostly Bengali-speaking Muslims, were allegedly arbitrarily arrested, tortured, and forcibly deported to Bangladesh after being falsely labelled as illegal immigrants by police and security forces, despite having valid documents to prove their Indian nationality.
According to a report in The Wire, migrant workers from Murshidabad, North Dinajpur, and Birbhum districts recounted how they were picked up from places like Mira Road in Mumbai despite possessing valid Indian identification documents, including Aadhaar and Voter ID cards, which authorities allegedly dismissed as fake.
Victims say they were detained by Mumbai Police around June 9 and 10, and were subsequently flown under tight security to northeastern states such as Tripura and West Bengal, where they were allegedly handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF).
Upon arrival, many claim to have faced strip searches, physical assaults, and psychological abuse at BSF camps, and were then allegedly pushed across unfenced marshy borders into Bangladesh. Several workers returned to India only after the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) contacted Indian authorities and verified their identities.
Reports indicate that a significant number of those targeted belonged to the Muslim minority community and had migrated from Bengal in search of employment. Workers alleged that their money, mobile phones, wallets, and identification papers were confiscated during their detention, and many now find themselves jobless, traumatised, and unable to return to work in other states due to a lack of documentation and fear of further persecution.
The testimonies also suggest that men and women alike were subjected to humiliation, including forced undressing, verbal abuse, and threats of being shot if they returned. Some detainees were reportedly photographed holding Bangladeshi currency, which they say was staged by the BSF to bolster claims of foreign nationality.
While some deported workers were traced and brought back to India through coordination between Indian police and BGB officials, others remain missing. Activists and political representatives have highlighted that the true scale of the issue remains unclear, with several families unable to contact missing members whose phones have been switched off. RTI applications have been filed to ascertain the number of such cases, as more returnees continue to recount similar experiences.
The Trinamool Congress has accused BJP-ruled states of systematically targeting Bengali-speaking workers and plans to lead a rally protesting the alleged harassment. Meanwhile, in states like Odisha and Rajasthan, similar reports of wrongful detention and abuse have emerged, reinforcing concerns that this may not be an isolated phenomenon.
