More reports of arrest and detention of migrant workers from West Bengal have emerged from different parts of the country, with the latest incident involving the arrest of six workers from Malda district in Punjab.

The migrant workers – identified as Mukhtar Ali, Minjar Ali, Zakir Hossain, Rayhan Alam, Kurban Ali, and Azam – were reportedly arrested from Chanchal in Malda by the Phagwara Police Station in Kapurthala on the basis of an FIR dated July 2. The charges include offences under the Punjab Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955.

The arrests in an Opposition-ruled State come at a time when there are mounting reports of migrant workers from West Bengal being detained or harassed in several BJP-ruled States, including Maharashtra, Delhi, Odisha, and Rajasthan.

Family members of the six detained workers claimed that they had travelled to Punjab for employment in poultry units and were “wrongly arrested” under cow slaughter charges.

In a letter addressed to Samirul Islam, Chairperson of the West Bengal Migrant Welfare Board, a Labour Commissioner from Malda highlighted that the six migrant workers are currently lodged in Kapurthala Central Jail.

“They do not have the means to fight the case in the court. If arrangements can be made for their release, it would be greatly appreciated. They may be provided necessary legal assistance through SLSA Punjab or DLSA of that district for appropriate relief of these six migrant workers,” the letter said.

Mr. Islam, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, said the Board has arranged legal representation for the workers and expressed hope that they would be released soon. He further clarified that the situation in Punjab is not comparable to that in BJP-ruled States, where migrant workers are allegedly being harassed on suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals.