300 migrant families rendered homeless in Haryana
New Delhi: Authorities in Haryana’s Gurugram demolished the homes of approximately 300 migrant workers from West Bengal without prior notice.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the workers’ only fault, according to many, was speaking the Bengali language.
The demolition drive took place in Jharsa village, under Sadar police station in Sector 39, triggering outrage among the affected workers. Many claimed that the action was based on suspicion of them being “Bangladeshi” due to their Bengali language.
Eyewitnesses reported that four to five police vehicles surrounded the settlement before bulldozers razed the homes, leaving the affected workers to fend for themselves. The workers, who hail from districts like Nadia, Malda, and Murshidabad in West Bengal, had constructed tin-roofed shelters on vacant land, which they claimed was rented from a local owner.
These migrant workers earn their living by engaging in occupations such as rickshaw pulling, factory work, street vending, and domestic labour. Many workers believe that the demolition was driven by suspicions of them being ‘Bangladeshi’ due to their Bengali language.
Zakir Rahman, a labourer, expressed his frustration, saying, “Speaking Bengali itself has become a crime here. We were labelled as Bangladeshis without any proof.”
A worker, who was preparing to return home for the Muslim festival of Eid, described his devastation: “I had planned to celebrate with my family, but in an instant, that hope was shattered. My wife, children, and I have been living on the streets since our home was destroyed.”
Media reports said administration officials arrived with a bulldozer and ordered residents to evacuate their homes immediately. Before the workers could comprehend what was happening, the demolition began, flattening around 300 makeshift abodes.
Samad Sheikh, one of the displaced residents, said, “Police gave us just 10 minutes to vacate. When we asked for a reason, they remained silent. We requested a day, but they refused. Within moments, everything was gone.”
Nur Islam, a resident of Murshidabad’s Beldanga, moved to Gurugram with his wife, children, and ten other family members six months ago in search of work. His wife, 23-year-old Amina Khatun, shared their plight: “We were already struggling financially. There was little work in our hometown, so we came here to support our family. Now, we have nowhere to go.”
