Odisha : The killing has once again highlighted the fragile security faced by workers who travel across states in search of employment.
The victim, who had moved from his home state for daily-wage work, was attacked close to his temporary accommodation and later died in hospital.
Witnesses Point to Identity Questioning
A co-worker who was injured during the assault said the confrontation began without warning. According to him, a small group approached the workers while they were resting after work and questioned them about their background.
“They first spoke to us normally and then asked to see our ID cards,” the worker said.
He alleged that the exchange quickly turned violent, leaving the victim with severe injuries.
The workers were staying close to their place of employment and had settled in for the night when the altercation took place. Others present said the attack unfolded within minutes, giving the workers little chance to escape or seek help.
Emergency services were alerted, and the injured were taken to hospital, where one of them later succumbed.
Police Offer Contrasting Account
Police officials have dismissed suggestions that the attack was linked to identity or migration. According to investigators, the violence was the result of a personal dispute that escalated unexpectedly.
Officers said the individuals involved were known to each other and that there was no evidence, at this stage, of a targeted attack against migrant workers.
Political Row Intensifies
The incident has also triggered political reactions, with opposition leaders accusing the ruling party of promoting suspicion against migrants. They have demanded accountability and stronger protections for inter-state labourers.
Authorities confirmed that arrests have been made and said the investigation is ongoing.The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress has blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party for fuelling suspicion against Bengali-speaking migrants.
“The lynching of a Bengali migrant worker in Sambalpur is the direct outcome of @BJP4India’s sustained campaign against Bengalis. A citizen of India was beaten to death because a mob believed the lie that Bengalis are infiltrators who must constantly prove their right to exist,” the party said in a post on X.
“For years, BJP leaders have deliberately branded Bengali-speaking Indians as infiltrators, outsiders, and suspects. That poisonous narrative has now reached the streets, where anyone feels empowered to act as immigration officers and executioners,” it added.
