A 31-year-old migrant labourer from Chhattisgarh was brutally killed by a mob in Kerala’s Palakkad district after being wrongly suspected of being a Bangladeshi national and a thief, according to police and eyewitness accounts.
The deceased has been identified as Ramnarayan Baghel, a resident of Sakti district in Chhattisgarh. He had travelled to Kerala on December 16 in search of work, but two days later found himself at the centre of a violent confrontation in Attappallam, near Walayar.
Attack on Suspicion
Local residents detained Ramnarayan on December 17 evening, accusing him of theft and demanding proof of his identity. A video that later surfaced online shows members of the crowd repeatedly asking him, “Are you a Bangladeshi?” and mocking his replies before the assault turned fatal.
Police confirmed that “no stolen property was found” on him. Despite this, he was beaten relentlessly, suffering multiple severe injuries. A subsequent post-mortem revealed “more than 80 marks of violence” on his body, including wounds from head to toe and fatal internal bleeding.
Ramnarayan was rushed to the Palakkad District Government Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries later that night.
Arrests and Legal Action
Walayar police registered a murder case under Section 103(1)of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (murder and mob lynching provisions) and arrested five individuals in connection with the attack. The accused - Anu, Prasad, Murali, Anandan and Bipin - are residents of Attappallam village and were remanded to judicial custody after being produced before a local court.
Authorities say further arrests are possible as the investigation continues. Police have stressed that Ramnarayan had “no criminal record” and was simply a daily-wage worker trying to earn a living.
Family Reaction and Wider Response
Ramnarayan’s family in Chhattisgarh has been informed of his death only after authorities contacted them. His relatives say they were initially told he was at the police station, without mention of his critical condition. He has left behind his wife and their two young sons, aged eight and ten.
Human Rights and Public Outcry
The incident has reignited debates over mob justice and the safety of migrant workers in India. The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of the matter and directed the district police chief to submit a detailed report within three weeks.
Civil society groups and activists have condemned the violence, demanding strict punishment for the accused and better protection for vulnerable migrants who travel across states in search of livelihood opportunities.
