New Delhi: Two Muslim migrant workers from West Bengal were found dead in separate incidents in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, raising concerns over violence against Bengali-speaking labourers.
Manjur Alam Laskar, 32, from Usthi in South 24-Parganas, was allegedly beaten to death in Komarolu village, Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh. Reports suggest right-wing Hindutva activists targeted him after suspecting he was Bangladeshi. His family received a call demanding Rs 25,000, with threats to kill him if the money was not paid. They transferred Rs 6,000, only to be informed the next day that Alam had died.
In Chennai, 29-year-old Alamgir Mondal from Harishchandrapur in Malda district was found dead near railway tracks. He had left for Chennai a month earlier for work and had secured a job in Hyderabad eight days ago. His family suspects he was killed and his body dumped near the tracks.
These incidents follow a spate of attacks on Bengali-speaking Muslims, including a lynching in Balasore, Odisha, earlier this month. At least five people, including four Muslims and a Dalit, were murdered in 2025 after being accused of being “Bangladeshis” or illegal immigrants.
Families and rights groups warn that these attacks reflect a growing pattern of xenophobic violence. They stress the urgent need for protection of migrant workers and call on authorities to investigate and prevent further targeting of vulnerable communities.
