The government of West Bengal is preparing to take legal action over the forced repatriation—or “pushback”—of Bengali-speaking individuals, allegedly labeled as illegal immigrants and deported to Bangladesh by Indian central authorities in recent months.
According to officials, the move comes in response to a specific incident involving a family of three, including a child, who were apprehended in Delhi and pushed into Bangladesh on 26 June.
The West Bengal government is planning to challenge this action in court, citing violations of due process and human rights.
The incident has intensified existing tensions, with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accusing BJP-ruled states and the central government of targeting Bengali-speaking migrant laborers.
She has alleged that workers are being identified as “Bangladeshis” simply for speaking Bengali, and forcibly deported without proper investigation. “This is unacceptable,” she said in a previous statement, warning against such discriminatory practices.
Samirul Islam, Chairman of the West Bengal Migrant Workers Welfare Board and a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from the All India Trinamool Congress, confirmed that legal steps are being taken over the case of six individuals, including the family of three.
“Such incidents are occurring regularly in BJP-governed states, where Bengali-speaking migrant laborers are being harassed and targeted. Even after presenting valid identity documents, no proper action is taken,” he said.
He also questioned the rationale behind this treatment, pointing out that while approximately 22 lakh (2.2 million) Bengali-speaking laborers work across other Indian states, around 1.5 lakh (150,000) migrant laborers from other states live and work in West Bengal without facing similar discrimination.
The family at the center of the current legal challenge hails from Paikar village under Murarai police station in West Bengal’s Birbhum district.
Danish Sheikh (26), his wife Sonali Khatun (24), and their five-year-old son Sabir had been living and working in Delhi for the past five years.
On 18 June, the family was detained by Delhi police from their rented residence in the Rohini area. They were later pushed into Bangladesh, with authorities claiming they were illegal entrants without proper documentation.
Family members strongly deny these allegations, asserting that all three are Indian citizens with roots in Birbhum and were living in Delhi solely for work.
A senior Delhi police official defended the action, stating, “After thorough verification, the family was repatriated as they failed to produce any valid documents proving Indian citizenship.”
The West Bengal government’s move to contest the pushback in court is likely to intensify the debate over the treatment of internal migrants and minority communities in India, particularly as political and communal tensions continue to rise in the lead-up to upcoming elections.
