GANDHINAGAR: A 23-year-old migrant worker from Uttar Pradesh succumbed to injuries after he was allegedly tied with a rope and beaten with sticks by two men who mistook him for a thief in the Santej police station area of Gandhinagar district, police said on Thursday.
Incident and immediate response
The deceased has been identified as Itwarilal Rajput, a resident of Farrukhabad district in Uttar Pradesh, who lived in a rented room in Khatraj village with four fellow workers. The men were employed at a plastic manufacturing unit located on the Santej–Vadsar road and worked long shifts, typically from 8am to 8pm.
According to the complaint lodged by Rajput's roommate Anil Tej Singh Rajput, the workers returned home at about 8.30pm on Wednesday, had their dinner and went to sleep. Around 1.30am, Itwarilal left the room without informing anyone. When his friend went to look for him, he encountered two men allegedly restraining Itwarilal with a rope and beating him with sticks on the Khatraj–Sanavad road.
Anil reportedly ran back, woke the other occupants, and informed their landlord, Bharat Desai, before returning to the scene. The two accused—identified as Mahotji and his son Sangram—allegedly asserted that the young man was a thief and threatened to kill him unless the group took him away.
Return home and death
Desai intervened and calmed the assailants, after which the injured worker was brought back to the rented accommodation at around 5am. Itwarilal is reported to have told his friends that he had gone in the dark toward another room by mistake and was attacked after being misidentified.
At about 7.30am on Thursday, the victim asked for water. Later, when his roommates tried to wake him before leaving for work, he was found unresponsive and was declared dead at the scene. Police said the injuries appeared to be the cause of death. The Santej police registered a case on the basis of the complaint and have begun searching for the accused.
Local implications and migrant vulnerability
This incident highlights the precarious living and working conditions faced by migrant labourers in the region. Many workers employed in small industrial units and factories around Santej and Sanand live in shared rented rooms near their workplaces. Limited lighting and narrow streets in these settlements can contribute to disorientation at night, increasing the risk of such tragic misunderstandings.
Labour rights groups and NGOs have in the past pointed to vulnerabilities that arise when migrants live in informal arrangements—minimal security, absence of proper identification or contact networks, and scant recourse to immediate legal assistance. The case is likely to trigger renewed attention on safety measures and community policing in industrial clusters around Gandhinagar.
What police have said
Santej police confirmed registration of a first information report based on the complaint filed by Anil and said a search is underway to locate and apprehend the two accused. Further details regarding the charges and post-mortem findings were not available at the time of reporting.
Timeline
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8.30pm (Wednesday) | Workers return to rented room after shift and sleep |
| 1.30am (Thursday) | Itwarilal leaves the room; later seen being restrained and beaten |
| ~5.00am | Injured worker brought back to the room |
| 7.30am | Victim asks for water; later found unresponsive and dead |
| After complaint | Santej police register a case and start search for accused |
Wider context and potential follow-up
The case will likely involve a post-mortem to establish the precise cause of death and the nature of injuries. Police action against the accused will depend on the evidence collected at the scene, eyewitness statements and medical reports. If charged, the two men could face provisions under the Indian Penal Code related to assault, wrongful restraint and culpable homicide depending on forensic findings.
Local authorities may also face calls to improve night-time safety in worker settlements, including better street lighting, quicker police response and outreach to factory owners and landlords to ensure the welfare of migrant employees. Employers and industry bodies operating in and around Santej and Sanand could be urged to review accommodation arrangements and liaison mechanisms for their workforce.
- Victim: Itwarilal Rajput, 23, of Farrukhabad (UP)
- Location: Khatraj village, Santej police station area, Gandhinagar district
- Accused: Mahotji and his son Sangram (search underway)
Police said investigations are ongoing and additional details will be shared as they become available.
