Labourer from Malda found dead in Jaipur

DARJEELING: On the heels of the labourers from West Bengal being brutally murdered in Rajasthan and Gujarat, there is yet another worker from Malda allegedly found dead in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Family members of the victim, Sakir Ali, alleged that he lost his life in an acid attack in Jaipur on January 16. 38-year-old Ali was a resident of Swarupgunj village in the Chanchal area of Malda. He was a carpenter and supported himself doing odd jobs.

Sakir's extended family consisted of his aged parents, 4 brothers, 2 sisters, his wife and a 13-year-old daughter. He used to frequent other states in search of jobs. He was working with a Decorator in Rajasthan and had little contact with his family. The last time he had visited his family was 5 years ago.

"On Tuesday evening, we came to know that Sakir was murdered in Jaipur. He resided on Hazi Colony road under the Sashtrinagar Police Station in Jaipur. On receiving the news, we enquired about who could be behind the attack but we failed," stated Zakir, the brother of the deceased.

Sakir's dead body was recovered from his residence, stated Manzur Alam, a relative. Six people have been arrested by the Rajasthan police but the motive behind the murder is yet to be ascertained.

Congress leader from Malda and MP Mausam Benazir Noor visited the family of the deceased.

On December 7, 2016, migrant worker Afrajul Khan from Malda was hacked to death and set on fire in Rajasthan. Some video footages of the murder were uploaded by the alleged murderer Shambhulal Regar on a social networking site, who was later arrested.

Recently Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has time and again questioned the brutal murder of migrant workers from Bengal in BJP-run states.