A 27-year-old migrant worker from West Bengal was found dead in Kerala, prompting his family to allege that he was murdered, local officials and relatives said on Sunday.
The victim, identified as Abul Hossain from College Para in Ward 7 of Falakata municipality in Alipurduar district, had travelled to Kerala on July 27 to work as a house painter, his family said. His body was recovered on Friday from bushes in the Kottakkal police station area, reportedly with his hands and feet tied.
“We have been told the body was found bound. This is a murder. The police are investigating, and we demand a high-level probe,” said his uncle, Aminul Haque.
Hossain’s relatives travelled to Kerala to identify the body. His funeral was held there on Sunday, according to family members. The incident has sparked concern in Falakata. Local Trinamool Congress leader Subhabrata Dey and Ward 7 councillor Bhagirath Mondal visited the family, pledging support. Mondal said the family is “very poor” and that the circumstances raised questions about possible harassment of Bengali workers in other states.
The death comes amid heightened political debate over alleged mistreatment of Bengali-speaking migrants across India, with opposition parties accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of fostering a hostile climate in some states. Police in Kerala have not yet confirmed the cause of death.
