Trinamool Congress general secretary and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee expressed worry about a trend of assaults on Bengali-speaking individuals in states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Banerjee visited Purulia district to meet the family of Sukhen Mahato, a migrant worker from Purulia who was recently killed in Pune, Maharashtra. While Trinamool Congress asserts that Mahato was targeted for being Bengali-speaking, Pune Police have refuted this, attributing the murder to a drunken altercation.
Banerjee emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into Mahato’s death by Maharashtra Police to ensure justice. He highlighted a perceived pattern of attacks on Bengali-speaking people in BJP-led states, though refraining from directly linking the Purulia incident to this trend. Banerjee also criticized the ease with which accused individuals secure bail in BJP-ruled states, urging strict action in Mahato’s case.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a social media post, alleged that Mahato was fatally tortured due to his language, identity, and origins. Pune Police, in response, clarified that the incident occurred on a Monday night when Mahato, reportedly intoxicated, engaged in an altercation in Pune’s Koregaon area. Inspector Deepratan Gaikwad of Shikrapur police station stated that Mahato argued with two individuals while under the influence.
