Police in Odisha have made six arrests following the violent murder of a young construction worker from West Bengal in Sambalpur city. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday night, has sent shockwaves through the migrant worker community and raised serious concerns about safety and identity-based targeting.
Dispute Over Bidis Escalates to Fatal Attack
The tragedy unfolded around 9 pm on Wednesday at a building construction site in the Danipali area under the Ainthapali police station limits. According to Sambalpur Superintendent of Police Mukesh Bhamu, an initial altercation began over the issue of smoking bidis but rapidly spiraled out of control. The confrontation turned violent, leading to a brutal assault on the workers.
Sheikh Juel Rana, a 21-year-old from Murshidabad, West Bengal, was killed in the attack. Two of his colleagues, Akur Rahman (22) and Sonwar Hussain (23), also from Murshidabad, sustained injuries and are currently undergoing medical treatment. Authorities confirmed that Juel Rana was the sole breadwinner for his mother and sister.
Conflicting Narratives: Monetary Dispute vs. Identity Targeting
While police officials have been quick to downplay any communal or linguistic angle, the accounts from the ground present a more complex picture. Inspector General of Police Himanshu Lal stated that the violence stemmed from an old monetary dispute that escalated. "All six accused have been arrested, and further scientific investigation is underway as per law," he asserted.
However, eyewitnesses from the worker community tell a different story. Naushad Ali, another worker from Murshidabad who claims to have witnessed the assault, said the workers were sitting near a bonfire when a group of local youths approached them. After a quarrel over bidis, the youths allegedly demanded to see the workers' Aadhaar Cards. "They accused the workers of being Bangladesh migrants before assaulting them," Ali revealed.
Fear and Insecurity Grip Migrant Worker Community
The incident has profoundly heightened fear among Bengali-speaking migrant workers in Sambalpur. Many now live in a state of anxiety, feeling vulnerable and targeted. Majhar Khan, a mason, voiced the community's distress, stating that they are frequently mistaken for Bangladeshis and face hostility. "We are not Bangladeshis. We request the state government to provide immediate protection to us," he pleaded.
SP Mukesh Bhamu emphasized the police's proactive response, noting, "Police raided several locations and arrested six people. Anyone else found to be involved will also be arrested." The swift arrests are seen as a step towards justice, but the underlying tensions and the allegation of identity-based profiling remain unaddressed, casting a long shadow over the social fabric of the industrial city.
The case continues to develop as police pursue their scientific investigation. The incident underscores the precarious existence of inter-state migrant workers and the urgent need for mechanisms to ensure their safety and integration within local communities.
