A day after a Bengali Muslim migrant worker was brutally killed in Odisha over suspicions that he was a Bangladeshi national, Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter, Iltija Mufti, sparked a political storm by describing India as “Lynchistan.” In a sharply worded post on social media, she wrote, “Not India or Bharat nor Hindustan. Thy name is Lynchistaan,” and shared a photograph of the deceased man, linking the killing to a growing culture of mob violence.
Her remarks drew swift criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party, with Jammu and Kashmir BJP spokesperson Abhijeet Jasrotia accusing her of selective outrage. He alleged that she speaks out only when victims belong to the Muslim community and remains silent on incidents involving Hindus. The comment triggered a wider political debate, with leaders from different sides weighing in on the implications of her statement.
The incident that prompted the reaction occurred in Odisha’s Sambalpur district, where a 19-year-old migrant worker, Juel Sheikh, was lynched on Christmas Eve. Sheikh, who was employed at a construction site in the Shanti Nagar area, was attacked along with other migrant labourers after a group of men allegedly questioned their identity. According to one of the survivors, the assailants initially asked the workers for bidis and then demanded to see their Aadhaar cards, suspecting them to be Bangladeshi nationals.
Majhar Khan, a co-worker from West Bengal’s Murshidabad district who was injured in the attack, told police that the situation escalated rapidly. He said the attackers suddenly turned violent after asking for identification and slammed Sheikh’s head against a hard surface. The assault left Sheikh dead and several others injured, triggering outrage and concern over the safety of migrant workers.
Following the incident, police arrested all six accused involved in the attack. However, officials have denied that the assault was driven by religious or national identity. According to Inspector General of Police (Northern Range) Himanshu Kumar Lal, the violence stemmed from a personal dispute that spiralled out of control and had no link to the victims’ religion or alleged nationality.
Despite the arrests, the killing has intensified debate over mob violence, identity-based targeting, and the safety of migrant workers in the country. Iltija Mufti’s remarks have further fuelled political tensions, with critics accusing her of sensationalism while supporters argue she was highlighting a troubling pattern of lynching incidents. The case continues to draw national attention as investigations proceed.
