Release my sons, says dad of Matua bros held in Maha jail
2
Kolkata: Two brothers belonging to the Matua community from Nadia are reportedly languishing in a Maharashtra prison for the last six months despite prod- ucing multiple Indian IDs and even identity cards issued by the All India Matua Mahasangha (AIMM), bearing the signature of junior Union minister and Bongaon BJP MP
Shantanu Thakur
.
On Friday, the grieving parents of Manishankar Biswas and his younger sibling Nayan sought their immediate release, accusing Maharashtra Police of wrongfully detaining them on suspicion of being Bangladeshi immigrants. The accusations also triggered political outrage, coming just days after the arrest of six members from the community (including three children) in Pune on similar charges.
Speaking from his home in Ranaghat's Rainagar, Nishikanta Biswas, a devout Matua follower, said the family was running from pillar to post to secure the release of his sons.
He claimed that Manishankar and Nayan — both in their early 30s — furnished Aadhaar cards, voter ID cards and even AIMM identity cards as proof of Indian citizenship. However, Maharashtra Police allegedly dismissed these documents as "inadequate".
You Can Also Check:
Kolkata AQI
|
Weather in Kolkata
|
Bank Holidays in Kolkata
|
Public Holidays in Kolkata
"We are closely associated with the Thakurbari in Thakurnagar. We travel around singing devotional songs at all Matua religious events. My sons went to Pune for work, and we depend on their income to survive.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025
Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List
Undo
Since their arrest, my paralysed wife has not been able to get medical treatment," Nishikanta said, breaking down in tears. His wife reportedly suffered a brain stroke after hearing of her sons' detention, he said.
"We voted for BJP, we trusted them," said Nishikanta, "but now we feel abandoned".
The family said they reached out to several netas for help. "The police are treating them as illegal Rohingya immigrants despite having Indian documents.
This is nothing short of harassment," said Sashikanta, Nishikanta's brother.
Trinamool's Rajya Sabha MP Mamata Bala Thakur and MP Samirul Islam condemned the arrests, alleging members of the Matua community were facing systematic targeting in BJP-governed states like Maharashtra.
"They are Indian citizens. They hold Aadhaar, voter cards and Matua Mahasangha IDs signed by Shantanu Thakur himself. Yet, they have been labelled as Bangladeshis.
This is shameful," said Islam. "Matuas are being harassed in BJP-governed Maharashtra. It reflects the govt's deep-seated apathy and bias towards Bengali-speaking Hindus," Mamata Bala said.
While Shantanu did not respond to calls, his brother Subrata Thakur, the BJP MLA from Gaighata, said the matter was resolved. "This is part of a legal process. When someone is suspected of being an infiltrator, the authorities concerned are bound to verify their documents.
Once that is complete, they are released. TMC is unnecessarily politicising the issue," he said.
Subrata said that large numbers of illegal immigrants, including Rohingya and Bangladeshis, had entered India, and police were conducting legal crackdowns in many states.
Citizenship has been a restive issue among Matuas, prompting AIMM to issue the ID cards.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
a few seconds ago
- Hans India
HC dismisses election petition against Congress MP
Bengaluru: The High Court has dismissed the election petition filed against Davanagere Congress MP Dr. Prabha Mallikarjun, who was accused of electoral malpractice for allegedly distributing 'guarantee cards' to lure voters during the Lok Sabha polls. The petition, filed by BJP's defeated candidate G.S. Gayathri Siddeshwar, sought to nullify Dr. Prabha Mallikarjun's election on grounds of inducement and violation of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. However, Justice M.I. Arun, who presided over the single-judge bench, rejected the petition, holding that the allegations do not amount to a corrupt practice under the law. The court cited a previous ruling related to a similar case against Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan and reiterated that the Congress party's 'guarantee schemes' were part of its official election manifesto. The judge observed that election manifestos reflect a party's policy decisions and not the personal promises of individual candidates. Hence, such guarantees cannot be construed as bribes or inducements under Section 123(1)(A)(B) of the Representation of the People Act.
Hans India
a few seconds ago
- Hans India
India doubles down on shipbuilding to become global maritime power
New Delhi: The shipbuilding industry in India is undergoing a transformational shift, as the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi accelerates efforts to build a world-class maritime ecosystem, according to Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. In line with the Maritime India Vision 2030 and the long-term strategic roadmap of Amrit Kaal, the Union Budget 2025 has announced a series of reforms and investments aimed at significantly enhancing the capacity and competitiveness of Indian shipyards. 'These initiatives are expected to strengthen India's position as an emerging global maritime power,' Sonowal said at the ongoing monsoon session of the Lok Sabha. Highlighting the government's commitment, Sonowal underlined the 'Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy which is being revamped to address cost disadvantages,' thereby helping Indian shipyards compete on equal footing with their international counterparts. The inclusion of credit notes for ship breaking in Indian yards reinforces the push towards a circular and sustainable maritime economy. To boost infrastructure financing, large ships above a specified size will now be classified under the Infrastructure Harmonised Master List, making them eligible for long-term, low-interest funding. Simultaneously, the government will facilitate the development of integrated shipbuilding clusters, equipped with modern infrastructure, skill development centres, and advanced technologies. This, the Budget notes, is aimed at 'increasing the range, categories and capacity of ships' built in India. In a landmark move to address the industry's need for long-term capital, the government has proposed a Rs 25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund, with up to 49 per cent government contribution. This fund will mobilise private and port-led investments to expand and modernise India's shipbuilding and repair capabilities. Recognising the long gestation nature of the industry, tax exemptions on Basic Customs Duty (BCD) for raw materials and components used in shipbuilding and ship-breaking have been extended for another 10 years. 'Our commitment to empower and enable our maritime sector is absolute and it is with this intent we are working under the dynamic leadership of PM Modi,' said Sonowal. To give Indian shipbuilders a competitive edge in public procurement, the government has extended the Right of First Refusal (ROFR) for tenders floated by public sector units. As per the Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order 2017, vessels valued under Rs 200 crore must be procured from Indian yards, thereby reinforcing the goal of self-reliance in maritime assets. On the ship repair front, Cochin Shipyard Limited has inaugurated a Rs 970 crore International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) in Kochi.
Hindustan Times
a few seconds ago
- Hindustan Times
Pay heed to what J&K MPs are saying in Parliament: Mirwaiz to Centre
Hurriyat leader and chief priest of Jamia Masjid Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday hailed the efforts of Jammu and Kashmir members of parliament to express the sentiments of people in Parliament and urged the Centre to give a patient ear to them to lessen the 'dil ki doori'. Hurriyat leader and chief priest of Jamia Masjid Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday hailed the efforts of Jammu and Kashmir members of parliament to express the sentiments of people in Parliament and urged the Centre to give a patient ear to them to lessen the 'dil ki doori'. (PTI File) At the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, Mirwaiz welcomed J&K MPs' united stand in the Parliament during the discussion on Operation Sindoor. 'A few days ago, in the Parliament, there was a debate on the India–Pakistan war after the heinous Pahalgam incident, and different views by different political parties of India with regard to the war, its purpose, success or failure were put forward,' said Mirwaiz Umar Farooq while addressing the Friday congregation at the historic Jama Masjid, Srinagar. Mirwaiz said that very few, and mostly in the opposition, talked of the human aspect of the war, its costs therein, and its correlation to J&K, which reflects the mindset and mood of the times. He said that the three MPs from J&K - Mian Altaf and Agha Ruhullah from National Conference and Engineer Rashid from Awami Ittihad Party —were the only ones to highlight the concerns and plight of the people at the epicentre of the basic problem and the current debate. 'They were speaking with passion and pain about the disempowerment and dispossession of the people of J&K and expressing the sentiments of the people of J&K that we have all along been talking about. It is good to see that on these matters all are on the same page,' he said. He said that he can only hope that what they said was heard by those in power in New Delhi. 'And if they really want to lessen 'Dil ki Doori', they must pay heed to it,' he urged. Mirwaiz said he has always believed that neither war nor violence, or use of force can solve problems and lead to peace and prosperity, which he said the 'billions of people in the Indian subcontinent seek, and the swathes of poor in this region deserve'. 'Engagement at all levels is a far cheaper and evolved alternative,' he said.
