Bengal government gives job to wife of migrant worker lynched in Haryana

Kolkata, September 4 (IANS): The West Bengal government on Wednesday gave a job to the wife of Sabir Malik, a migrant worker from the state who was lynched in Haryana on August 27 on suspicion of eating beef.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee handed over the appointment certificate to Malik's wife Shakila Sardar, who came to the state secretariat in Nabanna along with their four-year-old daughter.

Since the lynching became known, the Trinamool Congress has been vocal on the issue, claiming that Malik was murdered by people with links to cattle-raising vigilante groups.

On behalf of Trinamool, Lok Sabha MP Samirul Islam contacted the victim's family members and conveyed to them the state government's decision to assist them.

According to sources, Shakila Sardar has been given a one-year contractual appointment in the Land and Land Reforms Department and after completion of this period, she will be included as a Group D officer.

The job offer is in addition to the compensation of Rs 300,000 already paid to the victim's family.

Five suspected cow protectors were arrested and two minors were detained in Charkhi Dadri district of Haryana for the killing of Malik.

The accused reportedly suspected Malik of eating beef and therefore hatched a plan to murder him, police said.

The suspects allegedly called Malik and another worker to a shop on August 27 under the pretext of selling empty plastic bottles and beat them up. While Malik succumbed to his injuries, the other worker is currently being treated in hospital.

The five arrested were identified as Abhishek, Mohit, Ravinder, Kamaljit and Sahil.

Malik used to work as a rag picker in a village in Charkhi Dadri district of Haryana, which is predominantly a migrant worker population.