9 Bengali workers detained in Chhattisgarh without legal process, alleges Mahua Moitra

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has accused Chhattisgarh Police of illegally detaining nine Bengali-speaking labourers who were working at a school construction site in Kondagaon district. She stated that all the workers are residents of Krishnanagar, her Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal, and were taken into custody on Saturday without any legal procedure being followed.

In a video message, Moitra claimed that the workers were picked up from their accommodation without being shown any detention order or being given a hearing. She further alleged that the labourers were not allowed access to legal counsel and that their mobile phones were taken away, preventing them from contacting their families. She said, “Even after three days, their families are unaware of their whereabouts.”

She posted on X, “These nine individuals have been jailed without a detention order, without a hearing, and without access to lawyers. This is nothing short of state-sponsored abduction.” She maintained that the labourers had all necessary documents with them at the time of detention.

The Superintendent of Police in Kondagaon stated that the detained workers are accused in a case involving sexual assault against tribal women. Moitra responded by saying that if there is any such allegation, due legal process should have been followed, including informing the families and providing access to legal aid.

Moitra also said that in recent months, Bengali-speaking citizens have been subjected to similar treatment in other states, including Odisha and Delhi, where they are often labelled “Bangladeshi” and allegedly denied basic services like electricity and water. She added that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has previously expressed concern on this issue and recently announced a state-wide protest against such alleged injustices faced by Bengalis outside the state.