Newz Desk, Durgapur, Dec 2, 2025: A new wave of controversy has engulfed Durgapur as the Bhumi Raksha Committee has once again raised allegations of corruption, illegal job appointments, and land-related irregularities in the city’s industrial sector. The committee claims that despite Durgapur being built on the sacrifices of its original inhabitants, the local workforce is increasingly being sidelined in favour of outsiders and money-driven appointments.
In a letter sent on Tuesday to the Chief Minister of West Bengal, committee members alleged widespread misconduct within labour unions, claiming that key labour leaders who once championed workers’ rights are now “silent spectators” to corruption.
Land, Jobs and Silent Leadership: Committee Questions Accountability
According to the Bhumi Raksha Committee, Durgapur — once known as the bastion of working-class identity — is witnessing systematic exclusion of its local labour force. They allege that while the city’s industrial foundation was laid by families who sacrificed their ancestral lands decades ago, today many of their descendants “live like refugees on their own soil.”
The committee has accused certain labour organisations, operating under the banner of so-called “worker-friendly core committees,” of failing to speak up on critical issues. They specifically question the silence of white-collar labour leader Ritabrata, who they allege now plays the role of a “kingmaker” in labour matters.
“We, the sons of this soil, are being forced to watch silently as land is sold quietly and jobs are traded openly,” a committee spokesperson said.
Allegation of Paid Appointments at DSP
The most serious allegation concerns the Durgapur Steel Plant (DSP). The committee claims that in the past three to four months, approximately 65 people allegedly secured employment in DSP and ASP “in exchange for money,” allegedly with the support of influential labour leaders.
Despite multiple complaints, the committee alleges that there has been no response from the labour groups claiming to protect workers’ rights.
“Why is the so-called workers’ core committee silent about these irregularities?” the committee questioned.
Letter Sent to Chief Minister with ‘Evidence’
On December 2, the Bhumi Raksha Committee dispatched a letter to the Chief Minister, attaching what they described as “evidence of corruption, irregularities, and job scams” within certain labour unions. They urged the state government to intervene immediately to protect the interests of Durgapur’s workers and to investigate the alleged sale of jobs to outsiders.
Historical Grievances Return to the Fore
Committee members expressed deep resentment, recalling how thousands of families had once given up their agricultural lands, homes, and emotional attachments to make way for Durgapur’s industrial development.
