West Bengal Migrants Face Deportation and Repatriation Amid Controversy Over Identity Verification
Recent reports indicate that several migrants from West Bengal were pushed into Bangladesh and subsequently repatriated following intervention by the state government. On June 17, 2025, two migrant workers, Fazel Mandal and his wife Taslima Mandal, were returned to India after being detained in Maharashtra on suspicions of being Bangladeshi nationals. They were handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF) by the Border Guard Bangladesh after a flag meeting along the international border.
Earlier in the week, three other West Bengal residents faced similar circumstances when they were also allegedly pushed into Bangladesh by the BSF after being arrested by Mumbai police. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticized BJP governments for allegedly targeting Bengali-speaking citizens and labeling them as illegal immigrants despite having valid documentation.
Samirul Islam, a Trinamool Congress MP and Chairperson of the West Bengal Migrant Welfare Board, stated that seven migrants had been recently deported to Bangladesh before their repatriation. He expressed concern over the actions of both Maharashtra police and BSF for not verifying identities before deporting individuals who spoke Bengali. Islam raised questions about whether there is a coordinated effort among BJP-ruled states to target Bengali-speaking migrant workers and vowed to seek justice for those affected.
Original article
Bias analysis
The provided text is replete with various forms of bias, manipulation, and framing that influence the reader's interpretation of the events described. One of the most striking aspects is the clear political bias in favor of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The text presents a narrative that portrays BJP-ruled states as targeting Bengali-speaking citizens and labeling them as illegal immigrants, while TMC leaders are depicted as champions of justice for these individuals. This framing is evident in statements made by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Samirul Islam, a TMC MP.
The language used to describe BJP-ruled states is emotionally charged, with words like "targeting" and "labeling" implying malicious intent. In contrast, TMC leaders are portrayed as advocates for justice, using phrases like "vowed to seek justice for those affected." This dichotomous framing creates a clear narrative direction that favors TMC's stance on the issue. Furthermore, the text omits any potential counter-narratives or criticisms of TMC's handling of migrant workers, which would have provided a more balanced view.
The selection and omission bias in this text are also noteworthy. The article focuses on specific incidents involving migrants from West Bengal who were allegedly pushed into Bangladesh by BSF personnel or detained by Maharashtra police. However, it does not provide context about other migrant groups or nationalities that may have been involved in similar incidents. By selectively presenting only certain cases, the text creates an impression that this issue affects only Bengali-speaking migrants from West Bengal.
Moreover, cultural and ideological bias are present in the form of nationalism and assumptions rooted in Western worldviews. The article assumes that being labeled an "illegal immigrant" is inherently unjust without considering potential complexities surrounding immigration policies or national security concerns. This assumption reflects a Western-centric perspective on human rights and freedom of movement.
Racial and ethnic bias are also evident in the way Bengali-speaking migrants are portrayed as victims who require protection from BJP-ruled states' alleged machinations. The use of phrases like "Bengali-speaking citizens" creates an implicit distinction between these individuals and others who may not speak Bengali or belong to different linguistic groups within India.
Gender bias is not explicitly present in this text; however, traditional roles are subtly reinforced through descriptions of Fazel Mandal's wife Taslima Mandal being returned to India alongside her husband after being detained together.
Economic class-based bias is implicitly present through references to migrant workers' struggles with documentation issues or detention by authorities. The framing implies that economic hardship affects these individuals disproportionately due to systemic injustices rather than personal choices or circumstances beyond their control.
Linguistic semantic bias manifests through euphemisms like "pushed into Bangladesh," which downplays agency on behalf of BSF personnel involved in repatriation efforts. Additionally, emotionally charged language such as "targeting" reinforces negative perceptions about BJP-ruled states without providing concrete evidence supporting such claims.
Structural institutional bias becomes apparent when considering how systems of authority operate within India's governance structure regarding immigration policies and border security measures implemented by BSF personnel under state governments' jurisdiction.
Confirmation bias arises when accepting assumptions without question regarding immigration policies' fairness toward certain groups based solely on linguistic affiliations rather than individual circumstances or documented status within India.
Temporal bias manifests through historical erasure: there is no mention whatsoever about past instances where similar allegations were raised against previous governments; nor does it discuss whether current government actions differ significantly from past practices regarding border security measures affecting migrant workers from neighboring countries