The nights he spent on the no-man’s land aunt the border with Bangladesh was long-and Much Darker than his village at night.

When he finally got home on june 17 – after the “babus” had verified and established that he was who he claims to be – kamal was tired and broken.

Panic Over Detensives

Kamal is Among the thousands of migrant workers from west Bengal who has over the last few months be detained and in some cases like Kamal’s, pushed into the neighboring Country as part of an enginest Illegal. Bangladeshisis.

In march, the Indian express had reported how more than 2,000 alleged illegal bangladeshi immigrants were estimated to have been “pushed back” by the border by indian ahorities by sindo. Hours of May 7.

While the drive against alleged illegal migrants intensified post pahalgam, reports of detention in even earler from from the country – from Gurgaon – from Gurgaon, March, to similar drives in Assam and Gujarat.

With the drink focused on alleged “illegal Bangladeshis”, it is the Bengali-Speaking Migrant workers in these cities who have burne the brunt, with their pages and retraning toher Home.

More Detenance Followed – In Gujrat and Rajasthan in May, Followed by Maharastra (Mumbai) and Odisha in June, and Delhi and Gurgaon in July. At Jharsuguda in Odisha, 444 Bengali-Speaking Migrant Workers Were Kept in a Detection Center before they finally released.

Back in west Bengal, which heading into an electron year in a few months, the detention of the detensions have turned into a hot-boutton issue. Chief minister mamata Banerjee has initiated a ‘bhasa andlan’, calling the drive against illegal Bangladeshi migrants a movement by BJP-RULed States to “Terrorise beggali-SSPEAKING PEOPLE”. While the Ruling Trinamool and Non-Anda Parties Such as CPI (M) and Conogress has taken to the streets in the protest, the BJP has accused chief minister mamata banerjee and heroing in India. Politics.

According to the state government, Around 22 Lakh Migrant Workers from West Bengal work outside the state.

Kamal is Among the thousands of Migrant works from West Bengal who has over the last few months become detained

“This is an invisible but Huge workforce. We had earler Demanded Identity Cards for our Migrant Workers. On April 26, we Started a Helpline as complaints started to pouring harassed and worong. Coordinated with the administration and police as they visited houses for verification, “says asif faruk, state secretary of the paschim banga parijayi ayikka mancha (unified forum for mancha).

Samirul Islam, TMC Rajya Sabha Member and Chairman of the West Bengal Migrant Labur Welfare Board, Says, “We have no objection if the police detained and depecles Bangladeshi Citizens. Being detained and have been pushed in this. “

“Also, the police in these states have not been sharing any data with our state government Houses and their papers are in order, we have to do the documents to our counterparts in different states, “He saves.

Kamal and others who were detained say that police of asked them to make a quick call to their families seeking land records, school certifications and birth certifications, beft airter their phones. Delay in submitting these documents of meant long detection or worse – Pushbacks Across the Border, like in Kamal’s case.

‘Where are the jobs?’

It was an sos video that kamal and others sent out – recorded on the phones of Bangladeshi citizens in these border – that highlighted their plight and got the steate govern to Verify to Verify to Verify to Verify and international. their legal status.

This was followed by a flag meeting between the BSF and BDR, after which they were finally handed over to the Indian side.

Recalling the Nightmarish events of June 9, when he was picked up by the mumbai police from his nalasopara room on suspicion of being a bangladeshi citizen, he said, “I had back from the jhaal Muri Stall and Was eating. Dinner at, when I have all the documents, but not allow me din. “

Kamal says he and a few others were detained for some days, after which his photo and fingerprint were taken and the group sent to pune, where they handsed over to the bsf.

“From there, we were taken to agartala (Tripura). By then, there was a 100 of us. To the border 14, we have come to pass through the barbed wire told and told. Saying we are, but we are cainted, “says kamal.

By Sunrise, He says, Personnel of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) spotted them, after which they were told in a spot on a spot on the no-man land at the border. “Bangladesh Villagers Gave us food and water. After two nights, we have been handed over to the bsf first and then the west Bengali at mekhligunj police station (cooooch behar). Returned Home, “Says Kamal.

Despite a lingering fear, many of his relatives, including his wife and son and nephew yasir sheikh, continent to stay in mumbai.

Back in west Bengal, which heading into an election year in a few months, the detensions have turned into a hot-boutton issue (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

Kamal’s Sister Tahamina Sheikh, 53, SES, “After Bakhri Eid, Yasir Went Back to Mumbai (Where Works In A Brokereage First). Where are the jobs every day to find out if he safe. “

Dabbing Her Moist Eyes, Kamal’s Mother Karima Khatun Sheikh, 68, Says, “Two of my sons and grandson are in mumbai. Back. worrying. “

‘I’ll leave for mumbai’

Mounds of sand and bricks lie on the road out kamal’s sister’s home in baghra village. The house is under construction, like many others in the village.

Villagers say everything has youngsters working outide the state, some as construction workers, others as welders, painters, goldsmiths.

“You ask me why we go outide to work? And Stay in hovels in Mumbai, Delhi, Rajasthan and Haryana so that our families back home in concrete homes, so that our clothes can go to good schools and get privat tuitions, “Says Kamal.

Kamal is now waiting for the “kagoz” that will, again again, Establish his identity, before he leaves for Mumbai. “All my documents were seized when I was detained. For Mumbai.