Kerala Mob Lynching: Dalit Worker Ram Narayan Baghel Killed Over 'Bangladeshi' Suspicion; Shibi Mol Reports

Kerala Mob Lynching: Dalit Worker Ram Narayan Baghel Killed Over 'Bangladeshi' Suspicion; Shibi Mol Reports

In the early hours of December 17, 2025, a 31-year-old Dalit migrant worker, Ramnarayan Baghel, met a brutal end in Attappallam area near Walayar, Palakkad district, Kerala. The shocking incident, which involves a mob assault with sticks, has left the nation in shock and raises disturbing questions about xenophobia, hate crimes, and the vulnerability of migrant workers in our country.

According to verified reports, Ramnarayan had arrived in Palakkad on December 13, 2025, at the invitation of his relative, Shashikant Baghel, seeking construction work. However, he was unable to secure employment and was planning to return home when the tragic events unfolded. Eyewitnesses claim that the mob assault was a result of suspicion that Ramnarayan was a "Bangladeshi infiltrator," a xenophobic slur that has been used to justify mob violence in several instances across the country.

The autopsy report, which confirmed that no part of Ramnarayan's body was untouched by violence, paints a harrowing picture of the brutality of the assault. Over 80 injuries were reported, including severe head wounds and internal bleeding, which ultimately led to his death from blood loss. His family, including his wife, Lalita, and two young sons, aged 8-10, are now left to grapple with the devastating loss of their sole breadwinner.

The Kerala Police at Walayar station have arrested five locals from Attappallam, including Murali, Prasad, Anu, Bipin, and Anandan, on December 18, 2025, registering a case under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for murder. Increased security has been deployed in the area to prevent further communal tensions.

However, the motive behind the mob assault remains a subject of debate. While some sources suggest that the mob was driven by suspicion of theft, others emphasize xenophobic slurs labeling Ramnarayan a "Bangladeshi infiltrator." Family relatives of Ramnarayan have described him as a poor laborer seeking work, devastated by the incident, and appealing for government aid for his orphans. Police are conducting a detailed probe into the sequence and motive of the incident, clarifying that Ramnarayan had no criminal record.

The incident echoes prior mob violence in Kerala, described as part of its "dark past" involving migrant suspicions. Local theft reports in Attappallam preceded the assault, heightening community vigilance, though unlinked to Ramnarayan. Broader context includes xenophobic tensions against perceived "Bangladeshi" migrants amid national debates, combined with anti-migrant labor sentiments in southern states.

The lynching of Ramnarayan Baghel highlights the vulnerabilities of interstate migrant workers, especially Dalits from poorer states like Chhattisgarh, facing xenophobia, theft suspicions, and mob justice in host regions like Kerala. It potentially deters labor migration and worsens family poverty, leaving orphans like Ramnarayan's without support. The incident also underscores failures in police response, as the family was initially summoned without death disclosure, eroding trust.

Arrests signal accountability, but ongoing probes and security needs indicate risks of communal escalation. Appeals for government aid point to needs for welfare schemes for migrant dependents. Nationally, it fuels debates on hate crimes, mob lynching laws under BNS, and protections for marginalized laborers.

As the nation grapples with the aftermath of this tragic incident, it is imperative that we acknowledge the systemic failures and xenophobic biases that led to Ramnarayan's death. We must work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable society that protects the rights of migrant workers, especially those from marginalized communities like the Dalits.

In the words of Ramnarayan's family, "We are appealing to the government to provide aid for our children's education and well-being, as our sole breadwinner is no more." Their plea is a stark reminder of the human cost of xenophobia and the need for our collective action to prevent such tragedies from happening again.