Bihar govt promises permanent solution to land disputes; Oppn protests in Assembly over ‘crime, unemployment’

Patna, Feb 12, 2026

The Bihar government on Thursday assured the Legislative Assembly that concrete and time-bound measures are being taken to permanently resolve land-related disputes in the state.

Responding to a question raised by Barauli MLA Manjeet Singh, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Revenue and Land Reforms Vijay Kumar Sinha said that the government will not allow the land disputes to become a burden for future generations.

The Deputy Chief Minister informed the House that the survey of unsurveyed lands is progressing rapidly, with a target to complete the process within the next two years.

He said the government’s priority is to first survey non-disputed land parcels so that accurate records can be created and potential disputes prevented in the future.

Sharing details from his public hearings, Vijay Kumar Sinha said that around 4.6 million complaints were received, of which nearly 4 million pertained to record corrections.

These included errors related to names, accounts, Khasra numbers, and other land records.

He directed concerned officials to dispose of these cases on priority to ensure citizens are not subjected to unnecessary hardship.

Meanwhile, the opposition staged protests ahead of the House proceedings.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLAs demonstrated in the Assembly portico holding banners and placards bearing slogans such as “Bihar is number one in crime and unemployment” and “Save Bihar from Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar”.

Adding to the protest, Congress MLA Abhishek Ranjan arrived in the Assembly with a black bandage covering his mouth, alleging that the government was deliberately avoiding discussion on the “rising crime” situation in the state.

The opposition leaders were demanding discussions on the NEET aspirant’s suspicious death case, the rape and murder of a six-year-old girl in Darbhanga, and rape incidents in Khagaria and other districts.

The opposition legislatures claimed that the state government is framing charges against those who are protesting against the crime incidents.

Despite the protests, the House proceedings began amid sloganeering and demonstrations by opposition members.(Agency)

‘Most shocking and disappointing’: SC cancels bail of husband accused in dowry death case

New Delhi, Feb 12, 2026

The Supreme Court has set aside a bail order granted by the Allahabad High Court to a man accused in a dowry death case, terming it as “one of the most shocking and disappointing orders” it has come across in recent times.

A Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan allowed the appeal filed by the father of the deceased woman and directed the accused — the husband of the deceased — to immediately surrender before the trial court and be sent to judicial custody.

The dowry death case was registered at Kotwali Bhinga Police Station in Uttar Pradesh’s Shrawasti district for offences under Sections 85 and 80(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.

As per the prosecution, the deceased woman, aged about 22 years, was married to the accused on March 1, 2025, and died within three months of her marriage under mysterious circumstances at her matrimonial home.

The FIR, lodged by her father, alleged that despite giving Rs 3.5 lakh in cash and other dowry articles at the time of marriage, the accused and his family were dissatisfied and demanded a four-wheeler as additional dowry. It further alleged that the woman was subjected to physical and mental harassment and was found dead on April 25, 2025, with injury marks on her neck. The post-mortem report revealed that the cause of death was “asphyxia due to strangulation”.

Expressing strong disapproval of the Allahabad High Court’s approach, the apex court said: “The impugned order is one of the most shocking and disappointing orders that we have come across over a period of time.”

The Justice Pardiwala-led Bench observed that the Allahabad High Court, while granting bail, had merely recorded the submissions of the defence counsel and granted bail on the ground that the accused was in jail since April 27, 2025, and had no criminal history.

“We fail to understand on plain reading of the impugned order as to what the High Court is trying to convey. What weighed with the High Court in exercising its discretion in favour of the accused for the purpose of grant of bail in a very serious crime like dowry death,” the order said.

The Supreme Court stressed that the Allahabad High Court ought to have considered several crucial factors, including “the nature of the alleged crime”, the punishment prescribed under the BNS, 2023, the marital relationship between the accused and the deceased, the place of occurrence, and the post-mortem findings indicating death by strangulation.

“The impugned order has led to a travesty of justice,” the Justice Pardiwala-led Bench said, adding that it was “unsustainable in law”.

While clarifying that it was not expressing any opinion on the merits of the case as the trial is in progress, the apex court directed the accused to surrender immediately before the trial court and ordered that he be sent to judicial custody upon surrender.

It further directed the trial court to proceed with the case expeditiously and clarified that the innocence or guilt of the accused would be determined on the basis of evidence led during the trial. The bench further directed the top court registry to forward a copy of the order to the Registrar General of the Allahabad High Court, who shall place it before the Chief Justice of the High Court for appropriate consideration. (Agency)

Trinamool’s Abhishek Banerjee thanks FM Sitharaman for listening to his speech, counters her on GST rates

Kolkata, Feb 12, 2026

Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday countered Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, a day after she slammed him in the Parliament for “twisting facts” and “deliberately spreading misinformation” regarding Goods and Services Tax (GST).

In a post on his X handle, Banerjee thanked the Union Finance Minister for listening to his speech.

“I thank Hon’ble Finance Minister @nsitharaman for so carefully listening to my speech. Though I wish she’d listen as carefully to the people of Bengal when they ask for their MGNREGA, PMAY, PMGSY and JJM dues. The Finance Minister says I ‘twisted facts.’ Let me untwist them for her,” he said.

“She’s absolutely right, there’s no GST on fresh liquid milk. But perhaps she hasn’t seen the mother who can’t afford fresh milk, who stretches her budget by mixing powdered milk for her infant. That powdered milk? 5% GST. Zero tax on what she can’t buy, 5% tax on what she’s forced to buy”, he added.

The Diamond Harbour MP further shared data on GST rates in multiple sectors.

“She’s correct again, textbooks have no GST. But the graph paper a student uses for his/her math assignment? 12% GST. The laboratory notebook for the science practical? 12% GST. The crayons for the drawing class? 12% GST. On healthcare, she’s technically accurate as always; consultation and treatment are GST-free. But the oxygen cylinder that keeps a COVID patient alive? 12% GST. The insulin injection that prevents a diabetic from dying? 5% GST. The anaesthesia for the surgery? 12% GST,” he said.

The Trinamool leader concluded by thanking Sitharaman for proving his point.

“And yes, funeral services are exempt. But the agarbatti we light for our departed? 5% GST. EVEN GRIEF HAS A PRICE TAG IN ‘NEW INDIA.’ This, Honourable Finance Minister, is EXACTLY the problem I was highlighting. Until you understand the difference between what’s written in the GST Act and what’s written on a poor family’s grocery bill, you’ll keep living in your India while we live in ours. Thank you for proving my point better than I ever could,” he said.

The reaction from Abhishek Banerjee came after FM Sitharaman on Wednesday accused him of “twisting facts” and rejected his claim that West Bengal did not find mention in the Union Budget. She said that it was a deliberate attempt to spread misinformation.

Replying to the debate in Lok Sabha on the Union Budget, she took a dig at Banerjee for his claim that GST has to be paid even after death.

“I heard Abhishek Banerjee’s speech very carefully. It’s unfortunate that he twisted facts which are known to everyone in this House. Very conveniently, he spoke about the life cycle of an individual & lied. Ever since the GST was introduced in 2017, there has been ZERO GST on milk. Is he taking the members of this House as fools? There’s no GST on education. Effectively, the GST is exempt. Pre-school to higher secondary education, there’s no GST. Education leading to recognised qualifications, there’s no GST. On books, textbooks & notebooks, there’s no GST since 2017. He even spoke about pencil, sharpener etc. How can someone lie so much?” said Sitharaman.(Agency)

Sanjay Raut questions probe into Ajit Pawar plane crash, alleges agencies ‘compromised’

Mumbai, Feb 12, 2026

Amid the continuing political controversy over the fatal plane crash involving former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday questioned the credibility of the ongoing investigation and echoed NCP (SP) legislator Rohit Pawar’s allegations of “foul play” and “sabotage”.

Addressing a press conference, Raut mounted a sharp attack on both central and state investigative agencies, alleging that they were functioning under political influence.

“The investigative agencies in this state and country have become compromised. Whether it is the ED, CBI, IB or even the state police, the public has lost all faith in them,” Raut said.

He further alleged that under the Modi government, major incidents have not been investigated in an impartial manner. “The probes are consistently biased to protect those in power,” he claimed.

Raut pointed out that the aircraft involved in the crash had originated from Gujarat, saying this had led to public suspicion.

“People are bound to be suspicious. The plane that was carrying Ajit Dada also came from Gujarat. Look at the Ahmedabad plane crash. Nearly 300 people died, but what happened to that investigation? Can anyone explain how that plane went down?” he asked, rejecting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s appeal to trust the authorities.

He urged Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to take Rohit Pawar’s allegations on the crash seriously instead of dismissing it as political rhetoric.

“Rohit Pawar is presenting a detailed account with facts regarding the crash. If the DCM’s grief over Ajit Dada’s passing was genuine and not a ‘pretence’, he must call for a meeting with Rohit Pawar and the concerned officials. Dismissive answers like ‘the agencies are working’ are simply an escape from the truth,” Raut said.

Raut also referred to a recent meeting between NCP leaders Sunetra Pawar, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, and Praful Patel with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. While photographs from the meeting indicated cordial discussions, Raut expressed regret that the plane crash investigation did not appear to have been prioritised.

“Political discussions will continue, but if Sunetra Pawar and Praful Patel had raised the issue of this accident with the Prime Minister, the investigation might have gained actual momentum,” he remarked.

As political tensions rise, opposition leaders have intensified their demand for a transparent, high-level judicial inquiry into the crash, alleging that the government is attempting to shield the truth by influencing the investigation.(Agency)

‘Time will give the answer’: Shivakumar on K’taka leadership change after 10 Janpath meet

Bengaluru, Feb 12, 2026

Strongly hinting at a possible leadership change in Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress President D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday said he had met leaders at 10 Janpath, New Delhi, Sonia Gandhi’s residence, and added that “time will give the answer”.

Speaking to the media in Delhi after visiting Sonia Gandhi’s residence, Shivakumar was asked whether he had met Priyanka Gandhi Vadra or Rahul Gandhi. He replied, “I have come to 10 Janpath. There is no necessity for me to disclose who I have met and why I met them. I am not ready to carry out politics standing on the street. We have met our national leadership and discussed everything that needed to be discussed. That’s it.”

“See, I am here to carry out politics. I am not here just to breathe the air in Delhi and not discuss matters with the leadership. Whatever needed to be spoken about, I have discussed. Time will answer everything,” he said.

When asked about his meeting with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party General Secretary and Congress MP K.C. Venugopal on Wednesday night, Shivakumar said, “Certainly. When I arrive in Delhi, I have to convey all matters, and all matters need to be discussed. I have discussed everything with them. It is not possible for me to discuss all the details in public.”

Shivakumar further added, “We have discussed the Assam Assembly elections and other political matters. I, senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel ji, and other national leaders met and discussed the direction in which we should work. We compared all our reports and made preparations to bring a Congress-led government to power in Assam.”

The statements by Shivakumar are likely to stir ripples within the ruling Congress party in Karnataka. The Congress insiders state that Shivakumar is appearing confident after the meeting with Rahul Gandhi.

Sources said at 10 Janpath, Shivakumar first met Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and discussed matters related to the Assam elections. Later, he met Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and is learnt to have discussed the issue of the Chief Minister’s post. Shivakumar had been seeking an appointment with Rahul Gandhi for quite some time.

Shivakumar is considered a strong contender for the Chief Minister’s post, and his loyalist MLAs have been vehemently urging the party high command to intervene and clear the confusion surrounding the leadership issue.

It can be recalled that Karnataka Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar’s brother, former MP D.K. Suresh, stated on Wednesday that in Congress, priority is being given to those who joined the party from outside. In political circles, the statement is being taken as a veiled dig at Chief Minister Siddaramiah amid a leadership tussle.

CM Siddaramaiah joined the Congress party after quitting the Janata Dal (Secular) and then went on to become the CM twice. Senior Congress leaders have often targeted this fact and expressed their displeasure over the priority given to Siddaramaiah in the party, overlooking them.

Suresh also stated that he is confident that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will keep his word, hinting at a power-sharing formula.

The development took another serious turn with Deputy CM Shivakumar reiterating in Delhi that he and Siddaramaiah had spoken to each other in the presence of national leaders and that he would speak about it when the time comes.(Agency)

PM Modi praises FM Sitharaman for presenting comprehensive Budget roadmap to transform economy

New Delhi, Feb 12, 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday praised Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and said that in her Lok Sabha speech, she presented a comprehensive picture of how this year’s Union Budget will contribute to India’s economic transformation.

Taking to the social media platform X, PM Modi shared the speech and wrote, “In her speech in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman Ji gave a comprehensive picture of how this year’s Budget will contribute to our nation’s economic transformation. She emphasised on Reform Express, the support to MSMEs, skilling, push to next-gen infrastructure, efforts to boost healthcare, education and more.”

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said that the total resources to be transferred to the states, including the devolution of state share in taxes and releases that are made under the centrally sponsored schemes in the Budget for 2026-27 is estimated to be Rs 25.44 lakh crore, which is a Rs 2.7 lakh crore increase compared to 2025-26.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, she refuted the opposition charge that the Centre has reduced the transfer of resources to the states, pointing out that the allocation to states has gone up. All the money due to the states has been transferred to them, and there is no scope for doubt on this issue, she remarked.

The Finance Minister said the Centre was transferring 41 per cent of the net proceeds of taxes to the states in accordance with Constitutional norms. The figure is also audited by the CAG, she added,

She also said that this cess amount, which is not included in the net taxes, also makes its way to the states. For instance, the cess collected under various heads, such as health, education, and roads, eventually gets transferred to the states.

The Finance Minister said that the Budget for 2026-27 provides for a total capital investment of Rs 17.15 lakh crore, which has a 4X multiplier force that will accelerate economic growth in the march for Viksit Bharat.

She pointed out that the Centre’s capital expenditure was Rs 12.22 lakh crore, which amounted to 3.1 per cent of GDP, and represented an increase of 11.5 per cent compared to the corresponding figure for 2025-26.

After including the transfer to the states under various Centrally sponsored schemes, the capex of Rs 17.15 lakh crore works out to 4.4 per cent of GDP.

The Finance Minister said this disproved the opposition’s claim that the fiscal deficit has been kept cut to 4.3 per cent in the Budget by reducing developmental expenditure.

She further stated that the Centre has opened its schemes to all states and did not intend to leave out any state. She welcomed state governments to approach the Centre for aid in establishing mega food parks, IT parks, smart cities and waterways, etc.

“Any state can aspire — by going through the PM Gati Shakti filters — if they have a viable proposition. Any state can request the establishment of Allied and Health Services hubs, where we intend to set up medical centres.

States can seek to be part of this initiative, under which all aspects of medical education and hospitals for patient treatment can be concentrated in one area. So any state can qualify,” Sitharaman said.

This is a major, forward-looking proposition, given the medical tourism advantage that India possesses. It will become a centre for multi-purpose, multi-speciality Allied Health Services, through which we can further promote medical tourism, she added.

Similarly, all states can participate in the scheme for establishing mega centres for clubbing education and skilling centres for youth.

“These mega centres will enable students to become entrepreneurs, and this kind of a mega centre can be kept next to any industrial cluster that any state has,” she observed.

“So, these mega entrepreneurship building centres as education hubs can also come up in any state. We are willing to work with states so that this mammoth higher education centre can be propped up,” Sitharaman added.

The Finance Minister pointed out that the emphasis in the budget is on labour-intensive sectors so that they can have more resources to improve, and it is also looking at the legacy industries, which are waiting for rejuvenation, and have been funded.

She pointed out that the emphasis of the budget on high-value agriculture and horticulture crops, such as coconut promotion, will benefit one crore farmers.

The Finance Minister further stated the agricultural sector was being accorded priority with digital support in the form of Agri stack, which will contain all details of soil and fertiliser to boost productivity and enhance the earnings of farmers. The stack will contain information on scientific agricultural practices such as the use of quality seeds and timely irrigation.(Agency)

Patna Civil Court receives another bomb threat

Patna, Feb 12, 2026

Panic gripped the Bihar capital once again on Thursday when the Patna Civil Court received another bomb threat, marking the seventh such threat recently and the second within the past 24 hours.

The early morning threat triggered heightened security measures, with police and other security agencies placed on high alert.

According to sources, an unidentified caller contacted the court registrar’s phone, threatening to blow up the entire civil court complex.

The caller reportedly warned that this time the entire building would be destroyed, prompting immediate action by law enforcement agencies.

The district police and security agencies immediately rushed to the spot and launched a comprehensive search operation.

A bomb squad, dog squad, and bomb detection units are thoroughly searching the entire court premises. So far, no suspicious object has been found. The search operation is still underway.

As a precautionary measure, the administration evacuated the court complex, sealed the main entrance, and restricted entry into the premises.

Security has been intensified not only inside the court but also in the surrounding areas, with strict screening of visitors.

Sources said that court proceedings were disrupted during the morning hours, though officials are considering resuming work in the second half of the day, subject to security clearance.

Notably, the bail hearing of independent Purnea MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav is scheduled for Thursday in the Patna Civil Court.

His bail plea was earlier listed for hearing on Wednesday, but had to be postponed due to a similar bomb threat, raising further concerns over repeated disruptions to judicial proceedings.

Reacting to the incident, RJD MLA Bhai Virendra expressed serious concern over the recurring bomb threats.

Calling the matter alarming, he said such incidents raise grave questions about the state’s security apparatus.

The MLA alleged that there could be a larger conspiracy behind the repeated threats and demanded an impartial investigation.

He further urged the authorities to identify the culprits at the earliest and take strict action, stating that repeated threats to judicial institutions undermine public trust and the rule of law.(Agency)

4,000 kilometres of concern: Why Bangladesh’s polls matter deeply to India

New Delhi, Feb 12, 2026

The much-awaited elections in Bangladesh finally got underway on Thursday, amidst incidents of vote theft and violence.

Since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, ties between India and Bangladesh have soured considerably, with the interim government under caretaker Muhammad Yunus leaning more towards Pakistan and China.

He has been under the control of Islamabad, as a result of which he has framed policies that were aimed at hurting India’s interests.

India’s consistent position has been that democracy should be restored in Bangladesh, and hence an election must be held soon.

It has been engaging with members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the front-runner in the elections. Both sides have agreed to reset ties depending on what the final outcome of the elections would be.

New Delhi is watching the elections closely. There is a lot at stake for India, and one of the key issues is security.

India shares a 4,000-kilometre-long boundary with Bangladesh. This is, in fact, the longest boundary that India shares with any neighbour. A stable Bangladesh is important, as there are many parts of the boundary that are unfenced. It is through these parts that illegal immigration, cattle smuggling, narcotic trade, and movement of counterfeit currency take place.

An official said that the stability of Bangladesh is a key concern. A stable Bangladesh with a strong government would mean that the boundaries remain secure, as both sides would engage in talks.

India is also concerned about terrorists from Bangladesh coming into India.

Under Yunus, several radicals and terrorists have been released, and the ISI has been training them to be used against India.

Prior to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, counter-terrorism has been a key pillar for ties between the two countries. The counter-terror operations that both countries have carried out in the past have been seamless in nature.

India would want that balance to remain, and hence, having a democratically elected government is crucial.

Bangladesh and India have been trading partners for a long time. A stable Bangladesh is crucial for India’s Act East policy. When Hasina was at the helm, India and Bangladesh had expanded economic cooperation. This went beyond trade and also included energy cooperation and power trade.

These are important issues, and both nations would want them to remain intact. Experts say that this would, however, depend on stability.

Any instability in Bangladesh risks derailing all efforts both nations have put in over the years. India would hope that the BNP wins the elections, as it would be easier to work with this party when compared to the Jamaat-e-Islami.

An official said that it would be wrong to say that ties would collapse fully if the Jamaat is in power. India has worked with the Jamaat when it was in a coalition with the BNP in the past. The situation currently is a different one as the Jamaat and the BNP are no longer allies but rivals. It would be tricky to manoeuvre a Jamaat government as the party is known to be close to Pakistan.

Moreover, Jamaat has a hardline stance and nurtures several anti-India radicals within the organisation. If one takes into account these aspects, then a BNP government would be easier to deal with.

The official also noted that the Jamaat, however, realises that it cannot completely abandon ties with India.

Recently, at a press conference, Jamaat chief Shafiqul Rahman, asked about relations with India, said: “Can you see how colourful it is?”

The Jamaat and the BNP have traded charges on issues relating to India. The Jamaat says that the BNP is too close to India. On the other hand, the BNP accuses the Jamaat of being Pakistan’s puppet.

Another official said that it is important that the elections in Bangladesh go on smoothly and that a government is in place. Under Yunus, it had become almost impossible to deal with him as he was completely under the control of Pakistan. However, that will not be the case when a democratically elected government is in place, the official added.(Agency)

Kiren Rijiju shares new video, claims 20-25 Cong MPs abused LS Speaker, threatened PM

New Delhi, Feb 12, 2026

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday shared a new video and claimed that 20-25 Congress MPs abused Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and threatened Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Taking to social media platform X, Kiren Rijiju said that if BJP and NDA MPs had been given “full freedom”, the situation could have turned chaotic, but the ruling alliance exercised restraint to avoid an unpleasant scene.

“If I had given full freedom to the BJP and NDA MPs, then it would have created chaos. If it had happened, it would have created a bad situation. We don’t want such things. Around 20-25 MPs entered the Speaker’s chamber forcefully. Then I ran to see what happened and what kind of misbehaviour they were doing. They were abusing. Priyanka ji was also there, and they abused the Speaker, PM in front of her,” Rijiju said.

He further claimed that while Congress leaders K.C. Venugopal and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra did not abuse anyone, several other Congress MPs allegedly used abusive language in their presence.

“Venugopal and Priyanka Gandhi ji didn’t abuse. But under their presence, the Congress MPs abused a lot. They were saying, ‘See what we will do with the Prime Minister of the country. See what we will do with him in the Parliament.’ Everything has been recorded,” he said.

Rijiju alleged that the government did not initially want to speak publicly about the matter, but decided to do so as Congress was “spreading lies again and again”.

“We didn’t want to tell, but the Congress is spreading lies again and again. That’s why we are telling. We want to show how patiently we have worked. We have great patience. We can’t do that,” he added.

The minister also took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi, stating that he did not have much hope that the Congress leader would change his conduct in Parliament.

“We don’t have hope that Rahul Gandhi will change and talk well. But as I am the Parliamentary Affairs Minister and he is the Leader of Opposition, there is no hope, but we expect that he will change,” Rijiju said.

He also recalled an incident from his early days in Parliament, referring to former BJP leader L.K. Advani, and said that Advani had insisted on maintaining decorum and respecting parliamentary space.

“When I first came to Parliament, Advani ji was very angry with us when, by mistake, we reached the middle of the House. On one side, there is a seat for the ruling side, and on the other side is a seat for the opposition,” he said.

Rijiju added that even during protests, Advani had advised them to remain within their designated area.

He also shared an earlier post dated February 10, in which he posted visuals from Parliament and wrote, “Congress Party is proud of the most degrading behaviour by their MPs!! If we had not stopped all BJP MPs and allowed the women MPs to confront Cong. MPs, it would have led to a very ugly scene. We have very high consideration to protect the dignity & sanctity of the Parliament.”(Agency)

Consequence of climate where xenophobia weaponised: CM Mamata Banerjee on migrant worker’s murder

Kolkata, Feb 12, 2026

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday condemned the death of a migrant worker from West Bengal in Maharashtra’s Pune and slammed the ‘weaponisation of xenophobia’ to target innocent lives.

Using her X handle, CM Banerjee shared a video of the incident and expressed her anger at the rising hate crimes in the country.

“I am shaken, enraged, and sickened beyond words by the barbaric murder of Sukhen Mahato, a 24-year-old migrant worker from Bandwan in Purulia, the sole earning member of his family, in Pune, Maharashtra,” Banerjee wrote.

“This is nothing short of a hate crime. A young man was hunted, tortured, and murdered for his language, his identity, his roots. This is the direct consequence of a climate where xenophobia is weaponised, and innocents are turned into targets,” she said.

Banerjee also demanded the immediate arrest of the culprits and exemplary punishment for committing such a crime.

“I demand immediate arrests and exemplary punishment of the perpetrators. And to Sukhen’s family, I say that Bengal stands with you in this hour of unimaginable grief. No effort will be spared to secure justice,” said Banerjee.

This is not the first time Mamata Banerjee has spoken out against the attack on migrant workers from West Bengal across the country, and especially in BJP-ruled states. She has been vocal against the issue and repeatedly targeted the Centre over the harassment of Bengali-speaking people across the country.

The strong reaction from the West Bengal Chief Minister came a day after a migrant worker from Purulia district was allegedly murdered in Maharashtra. The Trinamool Congress leadership alleged that the migrant worker was murdered in Pune because he spoke Bengali.

According to police and local sources, the deceased’s name is Sukhen Mahato. His home is in Bandwan in Purulia. On Wednesday afternoon, the police recovered his body from the Koregaon Bhima area of Pune’s Shikarpur police station. They have alleged that Sukhen was beaten to death for speaking in Bengali. His elder brother, Tulsiram Mahato, has filed a murder complaint with the Shikarpur police station in this regard.

It was learnt that Sukhen has been working as a migrant worker in Pune since 2021. He worked in a car parts manufacturing company in the Sanatbari area near Koregaon Bhima. His body was recovered from that area.(Agency)

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