Sambalpur: A 30-year-old migrant worker from West Bengal was allegedly beaten to death following a minor altercation over a bidi in Odisha’s Sambalpur district, police said on Thursday.
The deceased has been identified as Juel Sheikh, who was working as a construction labourer in Shanti Nagar under the jurisdiction of Ainthapalli police station. Juel, along with a few other migrant workers from West Bengal, was engaged in the construction of a building in the area.
According to police, the incident occurred on Wednesday night when Juel and his co-workers were returning from work. On their way, a group of six local men allegedly stopped them and demanded a bidi. An argument ensued, which soon escalated into a violent scuffle between the two groups.
During the altercation, Juel was severely assaulted by the accused. He sustained serious injuries and was immediately rushed to the Sambalpur District Headquarters Hospital for treatment. However, he succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment, police said.
Police have registered a case in connection with the incident and launched an investigation. Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the accused, officials said.
Further investigation is in progress to ascertain the exact sequence of events.
