Muslim Youth from West Bengal Beaten to Death in Odisha Over 'Bangladeshi' Suspicion

A 19-year-old Muslim construction worker from West Bengal, Jewel Rana, was beaten to death on the night of December 25, 2025, in Odisha's Sambalpur district under the suspicion of being 'Bangladeshi.' His two colleagues were also severely beaten and are currently hospitalized.

According to the police, six individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident. The attack took place around 8:30 PM in the Danipali area, under the jurisdiction of the Ainthapalli Police Station.

Jewel Rana, a resident of the Suti region in Murshidabad, West Bengal, had arrived in Odisha just five days ago to work. His colleagues reported that the attackers initially suspected him to be Bangladeshi and demanded to see his identification documents.

A migrant workers' organization has linked this attack to the central government's special process aimed at identifying 'Bangladeshi' and 'Rohingya' migrants. This process, according to the organization, is resulting in Bengali-speaking Muslims being subjected to such brutalities based on mere suspicions of their origin.