Archive · 8 Sep 2026
23 Murshidabad Workers Held in Chhattisgarh Over Citizenship Suspicion
Twenty-three workers from Murshidabad went to Bilaspur to sell household goods.
They had been working there for about two months when Chhattisgarh police detained them.
The workers were suspected of being Bangladeshi nationals.
They were then sent to a holding centre in Raipur.
Their families say the workers are Indian citizens.
Relatives are taking Aadhaar cards, voter cards, land papers and ration cards to help prove their identities.
Bengal leaders have asked officials to check the documents and secure the workers’ release.
A Trinamool Congress leader accused BJP-ruled states of unfairly targeting Bengali-speaking people, while police said they were coordinating with Chhattisgarh authorities.
Chhattisgarh police detained 23 migrant workers from Murshidabad in Bilaspur over suspicions they were Bangladeshi nationals.
The workers, including 19 from Harua and four from Dhanghara, were sent to a holding centre in Raipur.
Their families say all 23 are Indian citizens and possess Aadhaar and voter identity cards.
Relatives and Bengal representatives have sought document verification and the workers’ immediate release.
Trinamool Congress leaders accused BJP-ruled states of targeting Bengali-speaking minorities, while police said they were coordinating with Chhattisgarh authorities.
- Who
- Twenty-three migrant workers from Murshidabad district, their families, Bengal representatives and Chhattisgarh police.
- What
- The workers were detained on suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals and sent to a holding centre.
- When
- After the workers had spent about two months in Bilaspur; the exact detention date is not stated.
- Where
- The workers were detained in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, and sent to a holding centre in Raipur.
- Why
- Police suspected they were Bangladeshi nationals, while their families say they are Indian citizens with valid identity documents.
Families and Bengal representatives
Authorities’ citizenship concerns
Workers’ nationality
Families and Bengal representatives
Families and representatives say all 23 workers are bona fide Indian citizens and have identity documents supporting their claims.
Authorities’ citizenship concerns
The workers were detained because authorities suspected they were Bangladeshi nationals; the article does not report a final citizenship determination.
What should happen next
Families and Bengal representatives
Relatives, Trinamool Congress leaders and elected representatives are seeking document verification and the workers’ immediate or unconditional release.
Authorities’ citizenship concerns
Jangipur police said they were coordinating with Chhattisgarh police and would provide whatever information was required.
Political interpretation
Families and Bengal representatives
Trinamool Congress leaders describe the detention as part of broader harassment of Bengali-speaking minorities in BJP-ruled states.
Authorities’ citizenship concerns
The reported police action is presented as a citizenship-checking matter, although the article does not include a direct political response from the Bharatiya Janata Party.
- Workers detained
- 23 migrant workers
- Origin
- Murshidabad district, West Bengal
- Work location
- Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh
- Holding centre
- Raipur
- Villages represented
- Harua: 19 workers; Dhanghara: 4 workers
- Documents cited by families
- Aadhaar cards, voter identity cards, land documents and ration cards
- Police response
- Jangipur police said they were coordinating with Chhattisgarh authorities