A Bengali migrant worker faced a brutal assault in the Bamra block of Sambalpur district, sparking tension among migrant communities.
Police registered a case against three accused, who remain absconding.
The victim, Mitul Sheikh from Murshidabad in West Bengal, has worked in Ganesh Nagar, Bamra, for nearly 20 years. On December 25, Mitul left home for a petrol pump. Near the bus stand railway crossing, three intoxicated youths stopped him and demanded his Aadhaar card. After checking his card, they accused him of being Bangladeshi and attacked him mercilessly.
Mitul ran towards his house to save himself, but the assailants chased him, broke open his door, and launched another violent attack. Police from Gobindpur station reached the spot after receiving information and rescued Mitul, but the attackers fled.
Based on Mitul’s complaint, police registered a case against Sonu Mishra of Gobindpur, Deepak Bhainsa of Pandaripathar, and Raj Sinha of Ganesh Nagar. Police confirmed that all three have previous criminal records at Gobindpur station.
Station officer Rajendra Behera stated that the police have launched raids to arrest the accused. Meanwhile, fear grips migrant workers in the area. Reports suggest several Bengali workers have already left Bamra and returned to their native villages.
Four days after the incident, the accused remained at large, prompting demands for strict action against antisocial elements.
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