According to the police, the child was abducted while playing outside his house on September 9 and was allegedly subjected to sexual assault and strangled to death. His body was discovered the next morning at a cremation ground. Investigations led to the arrest of a migrant labourer, Manke Yadav, a native of Uttar Pradesh residing in the Subzi Mandi area. The post-mortem report confirmed multiple injuries on the body.

Five-year old’s kidnap and murder: Family, locals demand fast-track trial

Widespread outrage followed the revelation of the crime, especially after images and videos of the grieving family circulated on social media. Villagers demanded stricter checks on outsiders and greater responsibility from local administrations.

The panchayat heads of some villages have demanded a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from migrant workers seeking accommodation.

On September 13, sarpanches from nearly two dozen villages — including Bajwara, Singhpir, Dada, Chak Sadhu, Nandan, Bilaspir, Bassi Bahian, Anandgarh, Kila Baroon, and Allahabad — convened a meeting at Bajwara and decided not to attest documents for migrant workers lacking valid Punjab-issued identification. They further decided that those without proper papers would not be allowed to settle in their villages.

Bajwara sarpanch Rajesh Kumar Bobby Mahe told reporters that migrant labourers already residing in the area have been asked to vacate if they cannot produce valid documents. “Even those who have Aadhaar or PAN cards have been warned that their newly arriving relatives will not get verification from the panchayat,” he said.

He added that tenants from outside the state will be permitted to stay only if their landlords provide a written undertaking taking responsibility for them.

A delegation of sarpanches has also petitioned Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain, seeking administrative support.

Mahe also alleged that a significant number of migrants — over 200 in Bajwara alone — had encroached upon panchayat land, constructed houses, and even secured electricity and water connections without paying rent. He claimed the matter was brought to the deputy commissioner’s notice a day before the crime took place.

Several other panchayats in the district have followed suit and reportedly passed similar resolutions, including Jaja and Zahura villages in Tanda.

The panchayat heads of some villages have demanded a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from migrant workers seeking accommodation.

Punjab CM Mann cautions against targeting migrants

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has cautioned against discriminating against migrants. Responding to queries in Chandigarh on Monday, he said that anti-immigrant sentiment is visible in many parts of the world.

“In England and Australia, protests are being held demanding that immigrants be sent back. Even in Toronto, there was a clash last week. Jobs are shrinking while the population is rising,” he said.

CM Mann clarified that migrant labourers cannot be targeted in Punjab as long as anyone is creating a law and order problem. Citing examples, he added, “Punjabis run businesses in Raipur, and most of the transport sector in Kolkata is controlled by the people from Punjab. Tomorrow, others can also say, ‘Send them back’. Such discrimination cannot be accepted”.