Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Denounces Pune Migrant Worker's Murder as a Hate Crime
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a strong statement on Thursday, alleging that the death of a 24-year-old migrant worker from Purulia in Pune was a hate crime. She asserted that the victim was "hunted, tortured and murdered for his language, identity and roots," intensifying political discourse around the incident.
Details of the Tragic Incident
Sukhen Mahato, a resident of Tumrasol village in Purulia's Barabazar area, worked as a labourer in Pune. He was murdered late on February 9 in Koregaon, under the jurisdiction of the Shikrapur police station. The Bengal government has pledged full support to the bereaved family, with Banerjee emphasizing that "no effort will be spared to ensure justice."
In a post on social media platform X, Banerjee expressed her distress, stating, "I am shaken, enraged and sickened beyond words by the barbaric murder of Sukhen Mahato, a migrant worker from Bandwan and the sole earning member of his family, in Pune." She attributed the crime to a climate where "xenophobia is weaponised and innocents are turned into targets," demanding immediate arrests and exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.
Family and Political Reactions
Sukhen Mahato hailed from a marginalised Kurmi family and was employed at a car parts manufacturing company in Pune alongside his brother Tulsiram. Their younger brother works at a welding factory. The family has alleged that Sukhen was murdered by right-wing sympathisers for speaking Bengali, refusing to meet any BJP representatives as they believe he was a victim of right-wing politics.
Dineshchandra, the uncle of the deceased, claimed, "Our bright young boy was mercilessly killed by right-wing members in BJP-governed Pune. He was killed because he spoke in Bengali." Sukhen's father, Dhiren, added that his son went to Maharashtra for work out of necessity and did not know Marathi, suggesting a possible linguistic conflict led to the tragedy.
In response, Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee is likely to travel to Purulia on Friday to meet the victim's kin, while TMC district leaders visited Sukhen's house on Thursday. All Kurmi organisations have also criticised the incident, highlighting community concerns.
Police Investigation and Counterclaims
Pune Police, however, have disputed the hate crime allegation. Inspector Dipratan Gaikwad of Shikrapur police station stated, "As per preliminary information, Sukhen Mahato left the house at 3pm. But instead of going to work, he started roaming around in Koregaon in a drunken state." He added that Sukhen allegedly picked up a spat with two persons, leading to his murder with a sharp weapon.
Gaikwad explained, "Our probe suggests that following the spat, he was murdered by the duo. We have CCTV footage in which the deceased is seen to be in an unstable condition and arguing with two persons. The actual assault did not get captured on CCTV." A hunt for the assailants is currently underway.
Background and Broader Context
The three brothers had been working in Pune even before the Covid-19 pandemic, returning home during the lockdown and resuming work in 2022 as the situation normalised. This incident has sparked debates on migrant safety and regional tensions.
Purulia's BJP MP and state BJP general secretary Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato commented, "Any death is tragic. After hearing about the incident, I spoke with the local leadership. Action will be taken," indicating a political response amidst the allegations.
The case continues to unfold, with investigations ongoing and political figures from various parties weighing in on the sensitive matter.
