In a distressing incident highlighting the vulnerabilities of migrant labor, four out of eight workers from West Bengal's Purulia district, who were allegedly assaulted in Chhattisgarh, have returned to their home village. The attack, which occurred following a wage dispute, has left the community shaken and raised serious concerns.
The Incident: A Wage Dispute Turns Violent
The trouble began on Sunday afternoon at a bread factory in Raipur district, Chhattisgarh. According to local accounts, the group of eight workers from Purulia had a disagreement with the factory management over their pending wages. The situation escalated dramatically when nearly 50 individuals, alleged to be members of the Bajrang Dal, arrived at the factory premises.
These individuals reportedly labeled the migrant workers as "Bangladeshis" and proceeded to assault them with sticks. The workers, hailing from Chepri, Bhursu, and Tentlo villages in Purulia, were rescued by officers from the Kotwali Police Station in Raipur. The local police then promptly informed their counterparts in Purulia district about the incident.
Return Home and Police Verification
Following the rescue, the authorities undertook a verification process. Purulia Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Tiwari stated that after learning of the incident, they sent each individual's documents to the concerned police station in Chhattisgarh for checks. "None of them has any criminal records," Tiwari confirmed.
Based on this verification, four of the workers were allowed to return to West Bengal. On Monday, Sheikh Jasim, Sheikh Alam, Sheikh Babi (aka Shariful), and Sheikh Zulfikar boarded a bus back to their village of Chepri. They arrived on Tuesday, visibly traumatized by their ordeal.
The remaining four workers, who are minors, were sent to a local children's home for their safety. SP Tiwari indicated that discussions are ongoing to facilitate their return to Purulia as soon as possible.
Background of the Migrant Workers
The group had traveled to Chhattisgarh in search of livelihood. Sheikh Jasim from Chepri village was the first to find employment at the Raipur bread factory. Approximately a month ago, he was joined by seven others from his region:
- His brother, Sheikh Alam
- Sheikh Babi aka Shariful
- Sheikh Zulfikar
- Sheikh Sahil (all from Chepri village)
- Sheikh Minal and Sheikh Ismail (from Bhursu village)
- Arbaz Qazi (from Tentlo village)
Their search for work took a violent turn, underscoring the precarious conditions often faced by inter-state migrant laborers in India. The Purulia police continue to coordinate with Chhattisgarh authorities to ensure the safe return of the four minors and monitor the situation.
