A migrant worker from Kerala was reportedly beaten by a mob in Odisha’s Sambalpur district after being mistaken for a criminal, local police said on Monday.
The assault took place on Sunday within Khetrajpur police station limits and drew widespread attention after a video capturing the incident began circulating widely on social media platforms, they said.
However, the news could not independently verify the authenticity of the shared video footage.
“The man had arrived in Sambalpur in search of work and had been roaming in the area for the past 15 days. Some local people suspected him to be a criminal as he was unable to speak or understand Odia,” Sambalpur Additional SP Ajay Mishra explained.
The residents confronted and physically attacked the labourer before police could arrive at the scene, the officer noted.
On receiving information about the incident, a police team rushed to the spot and rescued the man, Mishra said.
Due to the timely intervention of the police, the worker did not sustain any major injuries. After being provided primary treatment, he was sent back to his native place, the officer said.
A criminal case has been registered at the Khetrajpur police station regarding the mob violence, and three persons have been detained, Mishra said.
In light of the incident, the Additional SP urged the public never to take vigilante action, advising citizens to immediately contact law enforcement if they observe anyone acting suspiciously.
