A visceral outcry from West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee over the slaying of migrant Sukhen Mahato in Pune has spotlighted surging xenophobia. She termed the 24-year-old’s death a hate crime, born of malice against those from other states.
From Purulia’s Bandwan, Sukhen was his household’s pillar. Banerjee’s X post, video-attached, captured raw emotion: ‘Utterly shaken, boiling with anger, deeply wounded. Pune witnessed the savage killing of family provider Sukhen Mahato.’
She unpacked the motive starkly: ‘Pure hate crime. Punished for his dialect, heritage, origins—beaten and butchered. This is xenophobia armed and dangerous.’
Pushing for retribution, Banerjee vowed: ‘Immediate arrests, harshest justice for the guilty.’ Her solace to the family: ‘Bengal unites with you in sorrow. Full force for your justice.’
Echoing past campaigns, Banerjee has hammered away at attacks on Bengalis elsewhere, notably BJP states, prodding the Union government on migrant protections.
Incident breakdown: Pune-bound since 2021, Sukhen worked car parts in Santabari, Koregaon Bhima. Body found Wednesday under Shikarpur station—allegedly bludgeoned for Bengali speech. Brother Tulsiram’s complaint kickstarts the hunt.
Beyond grief, this tragedy probes India’s social fabric, where labor mobility meets bigotry. Banerjee’s megaphone ensures scrutiny, urging policy shifts to safeguard millions chasing dreams across state lines.