Kolkata, 12 February (H.S.):

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep outrage over the murder of a migrant laborer from West Bengal in Pune of Maharashtra. On Thursday, she took to the social media platform X and described the incident as barbaric and brutal.

In her post, Mamata Banerjee wrote that Sukhen Mahato (31), a resident of Tumdashol under the Barabazar police station in Purulia district, who was the sole breadwinner of his family, was murdered in Pune. She claimed that Sukhen was targeted because of his language and identity, making it a hate crime.

The Chief Minister said that this incident is the result of an environment where xenophobia and hatred are being weaponized, and innocent people are becoming victims. She demanded immediate arrests and the strictest punishment for the culprits.

Mamata Banerjee expressed condolences to Sukhen Mahato's family and said that the entire Bengal stands with the family in this hour of grief. He assured that no effort will be spared to ensure justice.

Following this statement by the Chief Minister, sharp reactions to this incident are emerging at the political and social levels.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey