A migrant worker from a Malda village was gunned down earlier this week in Manipur capital Imphal, prompting his coworkers to hurry back home on Thursday evening in fear.

Sabir Sheikh, the victim, who was from Baidyanathpur village under Baishnabnagar police station, had migrated to Imphal for work at a construction site with other residents some time ago. He was reportedly gunned down by an unidentified attacker on November 9.

Their friend’s murder, returnee migrants said, reminded them of the horrific killing of another Malda migrant worker Afrazul Sheikh in Rajasthan in December 2017.
Sabir’s friends said they did not want to go back again.

“Last Monday (November 9), Sabir went out in the morning. As he did not return after a long time, we started searching for him all over town (Manipur capital Imphal). Some local people advised us to contact the police station. There, we came to know that Sabir was shot by some unidentified attacker and had instantly died,” said Sabir’s friend and co-worker Abdul Alim.

Local Trinamul leaders met Sabir’s bereaved family, and accused the BJP of failing to uphold law and order in states where it was in power.

Amirul Islam, Sabir’s uncle, has demanded a CBI probe into the death.