West Bengal native beaten to death in Sambalpur, Shantinagar area
Tensions escalated into tragedy within the Sambalpur district of Odisha on Wednesday evening, resulting in the death of a 30-year-old man. A group of unidentified assailants allegedly beat a daily-wage worker to death in the Shantinagar area, suspecting him of being an illegal Bangladeshi immigrant.
Juel Sheikh, a native of West Bengal, became the victim of this senseless violence. The incident reportedly took place around 8:30 pm while Sheikh and three other labourers were taking a break at a local tea stall after their shift.
Witnesses indicate that a group of four to five men approached the workers and aggressively questioned their nationality, accusing them of being illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. The situation quickly deteriorated even though the labourers reportedly produced valid identity documents to prove their Indian citizenship.
Despite showing their papers, the mob launched a physical assault. While three of Sheikh's colleagues managed to flee the chaotic scene, Sheikh was cornered and brutally beaten. He sustained severe head injuries and unfortunately succumbed to the trauma on the spot.
Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Srimanta Barik provided further context to the altercation. He stated that what began as a conversation involving a cigarette spiralled into a violent confrontation, leading to the fatal blow to Sheikh’s head.
Upon receiving the alert, local police arrived promptly to secure the body and transport the injured survivors to a hospital for urgent medical care. Sheikh’s body has been moved to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) morgue, and authorities have notified his family in West Bengal.
This event has sparked fear among the local workforce. Other migrant labourers in the region are now demanding strict action against the perpetrators to ensure their safety and prevent future harassment based on identity suspicions. Police are currently conducting a thorough investigation to apprehend the miscreants who fled the scene immediately after the attack.
