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India accused of detaining Bengali-speaking migrant workers

August 4, 2025

"When the police heard my Muslim name, they detained me," said migrant worker Aktaru Sheikh from West Bengal. Local police declined to speak to DW on camera, but activists say detainees' accounts point to a politically driven crackdown.

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In Gurugram, migrant workers from Assam and West Bengal report being detained by police on suspicion of being Bangladeshi, despite possessing valid Indian documents. Victims describe being arrested without verification, held for days, and subjected to humiliation. Community leaders allege religious and class-based discrimination, as mostly poor, Muslim, Bengali-speaking workers are targeted. The crackdown has triggered fear, causing many to flee, disrupting essential services in the city.