SAMBALPUR: A day after the brutal killing of a migrant labourer from West Bengal in Sambalpur, police arrested six suspects and ruled out any allegations that the victim was assaulted on suspicion of being an illegal Bangladeshi immigrant.
The deceased, Juel Sheikh (30), was a native of Murshidabad district in West Bengal and had been working as a daily wage labourer in Sambalpur.
Inspector General of Police, Northern Range, Himansu Lal, on Thursday claimed that the murder was a result of sudden provocation and not a targeted attack. “In the murder case registered at Ainthapali police station in Sambalpur, all the accused have been apprehended. Further scientific investigations are going on as per law. The murder is related to sudden provocation. It is not regarding targeting anyone,” Lal said.
However, police shared limited details and did not elaborate on the circumstances leading to the assault, the cause of provocation and the exact roles of the accused. Police sources confirmed that six people were arrested in connection with the murder.
The accused were picked up following sustained raids and questioning based on preliminary evidence, witness statements and technical inputs. Investigators are now focusing on reconstructing the sequence of events and establishing the individual roles of each accused.
Sheikh was beaten to death on Wednesday night in Shantinagar area under Ainthapali police limits of Sambalpur after being allegedly attacked by a group of miscreants. The incident occurred when Sheikh and two other labourers stopped at a tea stall after work and were confronted by a group of miscreants who demanded identity documents.
Although valid IDs were reportedly shown, the attackers assaulted the group, during which two labourers managed to escape while Sheikh was caught and fatally beaten.
Police have not clarified why the suspects demanded ID documents from the victims. Sheikh’s body is at the district headquarters hospital, his family members have been intimated, and the necessary legal formalities have been initiated. Meanwhile, patrolling has been stepped up in the area to prevent any further tension.