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Time of India

16 Bengal workers detained in Odisha, chief secy intervenes

Kolkata: Odisha Police detained 16 workers from Birbhum on June 25, suspecting them to be Bangladeshi nationals. Bengal govt, through chief secretary Manoj Pant, has got in touch with the Odisha administration for the release of the workers, who are currently lodged at Remuna police station. The workers, all residents of Nalhati block 2, were unreachable since their detention as police confiscated their mobile phones. Their families had no direct communication with them for nearly a week. Seeking help, the families contacted a Trinamool youth neta from Nalhati, who escalated the matter to local legislator Ashok Chattopadhyay. After gathering proof of their Indian citizenship, Chattopadhyay, along with Birbhum DM Bidhan Roy, compiled the documentation and forwarded it to CS Pant. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata The Bengal govt then initiated proceedings to secure the workers' release and return. The detained workers' citizenship documents are currently under review by Odisha authorities, said a source. This incident highlights the ongoing citizenship verification challenges faced by migrant workers from Bengal, with repeated incidents reported from multiple states even as Trinamool, led by CM Mamata Banerjee, has been raising objections. TMC's Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam on Monday alleged that Bengali-speaking migrant workers were facing "persecution" in BJP-ruled states and were being branded "Bangladeshis". "These migrant workers are being detained without any police records. Authorities are not even contacting the state govt to verify their citizenship. What, then, is the motive of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah?" Islam asked in a post on X. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!