Bengal Launches WhatsApp Helpline for Migrant Workers Facing Abuse in Other States
Amid growing concerns over the safety and well-being of migrant workers from West Bengal employed in other Indian states, the state police have launched a dedicated WhatsApp helpline to assist those facing hardship, abuse, or exploitation. The initiative follows a spate of disturbing reports indicating that many workers from Bengal, who travel to other states for employment, have encountered severe difficulties — ranging from wage denial and poor working conditions to physical harm and intimidation. However, victims and their families often remain unaware of where or how to seek help. In response, West Bengal authorities have issued a public appeal urging anyone facing such issues to immediately contact their local police station or the district control room. Additionally, a dedicated WhatsApp helpline has been launched for distressed families back home. The helpline number — +91 91477 27666 — will function exclusively on WhatsApp. Families can send messages to this number detailing the issue, including the victim’s name, address, and relevant circumstances. The police have assured that each complaint will be verified and followed up with the concerned state authorities to initiate necessary action. “We are receiving information from various sources about the hardships faced by our workers in other states,” said a senior state police official. “But most families don’t know how to report these problems. This helpline is meant to bridge that gap.” The move comes as Indian states grapple with growing internal migration, driven by uneven economic development. West Bengal has long been a source of labor for industries across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, and the southern states. However, oversight and support for these workers often remain minimal once they leave their home state. Activists have welcomed the initiative as a critical step toward safeguarding the rights and dignity of India’s internal migrants — a group frequently overlooked in mainstream policy discourse. “This is not just a helpline — it’s a lifeline,” said one Kolkata-based labor rights advocate. “If implemented seriously, it can prevent tragedies and reconnect vulnerable workers with vital state support.” The West Bengal Police have encouraged the public to share the helpline number widely, especially in rural areas where outbound migration is highest.
Election Commission to Launch Special Voter List Revision; Trinamool Raises Objections
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to begin a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls across the country starting from August or September, prompting sharp political reactions in West Bengal. The revision, aimed at ensuring only eligible citizens are included in the voters’ list, will involve booth-level officers (BLOs) visiting households to assist with form filling and document verification. Applicants will be required to furnish any one of 11 listed documents, including birth certificates, passports, educational certificates, government-issued IDs, or proof of residence. However, Aadhaar, PAN and driving licences will not be accepted as standalone proof. Trinamool Congress MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar has strongly objected to the exercise, alleging that the move is politically motivated and designed to disenfranchise voters in West Bengal. She accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to manipulate the voter list for electoral gain. In response, a BJP leader claimed that the state’s voter list contains numerous fictitious names and said the SIR process is essential to remove ineligible voters and detect illegal immigrants. The ECI has clarified that citizens who were enrolled during the last SIR held in 2002 in West Bengal will not be required to produce documents again. Those included in the voter list after 2002, however, must provide one of the 11 valid documents. Individuals born before July 1987 will only need to submit their own document. Those born between 1987 and 2002 must submit either a parent’s document or proof of inclusion in the 2002 voter list. For voters born after 2002, documents from both parents may be required unless their names already appeared in the previous SIR. Amid confusion over requirements, officials have clarified that a birth certificate is just one of several acceptable documents and not mandatory. The SIR is aimed at preventing ineligible individuals, including illegal immigrants, from registering as voters, while ensuring that no genuine citizen is excluded. The revision process will be conducted both offline and online, enabling those residing outside their home states to participate. The ECI stressed that refugees and infiltrators must not be conflated and urged people not to be misled by misinformation. The upcoming revision marks the first major overhaul of the voters’ list in West Bengal since the last SIR conducted in 2002 during the Left Front government. Failure to fill the requisite forms may result in exclusion from the electoral rolls, officials warned. The ECI maintains that the SIR process is a routine administrative exercise that has been carried out periodically since the 1950s in different parts of the country to ensure the accuracy of the electoral rolls.
Red alert for two districts : Floods Hit Ghatal in West Bengal; Bharat Sevashram Sangha Steps In With Relief
Torrential rainfall triggered by a low-pressure system over the northwestern Bay of Bengal has led to flooding in parts of southern West Bengal, with Ghatal subdivision in Paschim Medinipur district among the worst affected. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the depression is currently located around 150 kilometres southeast of Sagar Island and is expected to move northwestwards across Gangetic West Bengal before progressing towards northern Odisha and Jharkhand. The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across several districts of south Bengal through Monday. Continuous rainfall since Thursday night has caused waterlogging in low-lying areas of Kolkata, slowing traffic on major roads including BB Ganguly Street, Amherst Street, MG Road and near College Street Market. A large tree fell in the Hudco More area on Friday afternoon, temporarily disrupting traffic flow. In Ghatal, swollen river levels have inundated large areas, displacing hundreds of residents and damaging crops. In response, the Bharat Sevashram Sangha, a spiritual and philanthropic organisation, has launched relief operations in the flood-affected region. Swami Biswatmananda Maharaj, Secretary-General of the Sangha, said their monks and volunteers have reached remote villages by boat to deliver aid. Dry food packets containing puffed rice, flattened rice, jaggery, and biscuits are being distributed to flood victims in Daulatchak, Fatehpur, Ramchak, Gangaprasad and Nich Monshuka villages under Ghatal police station limits. Temporary medical camps have also been set up to provide free treatment and distribute essential medicines to those injured or ill due to the floods. “It is our moral responsibility to stand by those who are suffering,” said Swami Biswatmananda. “We are reaching around 300 families in the worst-hit zones with food and medical care.” Relief efforts are expected to continue as rains persist and the low-pressure system moves inland.
West Bengal Migrant Worker Allegedly Deported to Bangladesh by Rajasthan Authorities
A migrant labourer from West Bengal has reportedly been forcibly pushed across the India-Bangladesh border after being wrongly identified as an illegal Bangladeshi national by authorities in Rajasthan, a BJP-ruled state in western India. The worker, identified as Amir Sheikh, is a resident of Kaliachak in West Bengal’s Malda district. According to his family, Sheikh had travelled to Rajasthan nearly three months ago in search of work. He reportedly spoke only Bengali, which is being cited as one of the reasons for his alleged detention by local police. Despite possessing valid identity documents including an Aadhaar card proving his Indian citizenship, Sheikh was reportedly arrested by Rajasthan police on suspicion of being an illegal immigrant from Bangladesh. His family alleges that the authorities ignored his documentation and instead transferred him to a detention facility. In a startling twist, Sheikh was later allegedly taken to the India-Bangladesh border in Basirhat, North 24 Parganas — over 1,800 kilometres away from Rajasthan — and forcibly handed over to Bangladesh authorities through what is known as a “pushback”. The process of “pushback” is typically used for illegal immigrants crossing into India, not for citizens within the country. Most disturbingly, his family claims he was thrown across the barbed wire fencing using a payload crane — an act they have condemned as “inhumane” and “criminal”. Reports say Sheikh has since surfaced in Bangladesh’s Satkhira district, from where he released a video on social media, asserting his Indian identity and narrating his ordeal. The incident has triggered widespread outrage, especially in West Bengal, where political and civil society groups are demanding an inquiry into the apparent violation of a citizen’s rights. “This is not just a question of mistaken identity — it is a shocking example of systemic abuse and xenophobia,” said a human rights activist in Kolkata. “How can someone be deported from his own country despite having valid identity proof?” As of now, there has been no official response from the Rajasthan government or the Border Security Force (BSF). The family of Amir Sheikh has appealed to the West Bengal government and the Ministry of Home Affairs to intervene and ensure his safe return. The case is likely to spark political and legal debates over migrant rights, citizenship verification, and the treatment of linguistic minorities within India.
ISRO Chairman & scientist Dr. V. Narayanan Honoured with G P Birla Memorial Award
Dr. V. Narayanan, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Secretary of the Department of Space, was conferred with the prestigious G P Birla Memorial Award at a special ceremony held on Friday at the Bhaskara Auditorium of the B M Birla Science Centre in Hyderabad. The award, previously known as the Lifetime Achievement Award, honours exceptional contributions in the fields of science and technology. It commemorates the legacy of Padma Bhushan G P Birla, a noted industrialist and philanthropist renowned for his commitment to education, scientific advancement, and cultural heritage. The award was presented by Smt. Nirmala Birla, Chairperson of the G P Birla Archaeological, Astronomical and Scientific Institute. The ceremony was attended by several distinguished scientists, administrators, and dignitaries, including Dr. Y. V. N. Krishnamurthy, former Director of NRSC, and Dr. Prakash Chauhan, current Director of NRSC, who served as Guests of Honour. As part of the event, Dr. Narayanan delivered the G P Birla Memorial Lecture, providing an in-depth look into the evolving landscape of space exploration and India’s growing role in international space missions. He highlighted ISRO’s future projects, advancements in satellite technology, and the agency’s focus on fostering innovation through indigenous research and global collaborations. The G P Birla Memorial Award has been previously conferred upon 32 Nobel Laureates, including Indian-born structural biologist Dr. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, and eminent Indian figures such as Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India, Dr. Kasturirangan, former ISRO Chairman, and theoretical physicist Prof. Jogesh Pati, underscoring its significance in recognising pioneers in science and technology. The G P Birla Archaeological, Astronomical and Scientific Institute, based in Hyderabad, has long served as a platform for scientific outreach and academic exchange. Over the years, it has hosted an array of global dignitaries, including Nobel Laureates, Presidents, Prime Ministers, and Governors. Friday’s ceremony marked another milestone in the Institute’s commitment to scientific excellence, celebrating both individual achievement and the enduring vision of G P Birla.
Protest Erupts in Kolkata’s Belghoria over Proposed Merger of Two Post Offices
A large-scale protest broke out in Kolkata’s Belghoria area on Friday following reports of a proposed merger between the busy East Belghoria Post Office and the smaller, dilapidated Udaypur Post Office in nearby Nimta. The unrest prompted a significant deployment of police personnel to control the crowd, though postal authorities have yet to officially confirm any merger plans. Hundreds of residents, including senior citizens, gathered outside the East Belghoria Post Office — located just after the Belghoria flyover — and locked its gates in protest, demanding that the two post offices continue to operate independently. Protesters claimed that merging the two facilities would severely disrupt services across a wide catchment area, forcing people to travel longer distances and wait extended periods for routine services. “The East Belghoria Post Office is one of the busiest in the region and serves a large population,” said a local resident. “Merging it with the poorly maintained Udaypur office, which lacks even basic infrastructure like toilets, will be a disaster for the public.” Police from the local Belghoria station arrived at the scene and forcibly opened the locked premises to restore order. The protest created considerable tension in the area, though no reports of violence or injury were filed. Residents of surrounding localities — including Jatin Das Road, Nandan Nagar, Kalcher More, Alipur, Old Nimta Road, and Purba Para — joined the protest. Many submitted signed petitions to senior officials from the Department of Posts, who arrived on-site to assess the situation. “The work that currently takes one hour will take four hours if this merger happens. Both time and accessibility will suffer,” said a senior citizen participating in the demonstration. “We appeal to everyone to come together and resist this move.” The protestors have called for continued demonstrations and further submission of grievances to authorities. They have also urged local media to report on the matter and amplify public concerns. Despite the unrest, the postal department has not issued any formal statement confirming or denying the merger. However, tensions remain high in Belghoria as residents prepare for renewed agitation if their demands are not addressed.
