The victim’s family, who reached Kerala from Chhattisgarh, has refused to take custody of the body, demanding stricter charges against the accused and government compensation
PALAKKAD –A new video has emerged into the sordid lynching last week of a migrant worker from the northern state of Chhattisgarh in Kerala’s Palakkad district. The video that came to light on Sunday shows the attackers repeatedly questioning the victim’s identity, asking “Are you Bangladeshi?” The other disturbing aspect emerging from the video is that some of the assaulters seemed to be having a vicarious pleasure while assaulting the victim Ram Narayan Baghel.
The attack on the workers reportedly took place over theft allegations although no stolen items were found on him. Police are investigating.
According to a report by India Today, the assaulters repeatedly asked the victim, “Are you Bangladeshi?” and continued beating him even as he pleaded innocence of the theft charge and that he belonged to Bangladesh.
The victim was set upon by a group of local residents in the Attappallam area near Walayar. The accessed video shows the men slapping and interrogating Baghel, while one attacker is seen laughing during the assault.
Baghel reportedly collapsed during the beating, vomited blood, and was rushed to Palakkad district hospital by locals and police. He later succumbed to his injuries. A postmortem conducted at the Thrissur Medical College revealed severe internal and external injuries, indicating a brutal mob assault.
Meanwhile, Baghel’s family, who reached Kerala from Chhattisgarh, has refused to take custody of the body, demanding stricter charges against the accused and government compensation. His brother, Shashikant, is quoted by India Today as saying that they want the case registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, asserting Baghel belonged to a Dalit community. The family has also sought ₹25 lakh compensation and said they would not return home until their demands were met.
“He was the only breadwinner. We have not received any help yet. Unless our demands are met, we won’t accept the body,” Shashikant said.
Responding to the incident, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan assured strict action, saying, “Justice will be ensured to the family… Strict action will be taken against the accused.” He added that a Special Investigation Team led by the Palakkad Superintendent of Police was probing the case, and that the government would examine compensation demands.
The lynching has also triggered a sharp political exchange in Kerala. CPI(M) leader and state minister MB Rajesh alleged that the killing was fuelled by “racial hatred spread by the RSS”, noting that the attackers branding Baghel as “Bangladeshi” reflected targeted prejudice.
“The poison of racial hatred spread by the RSS is visible here,” Rajesh said, accusing media outlets of downplaying the ideological angle and terming the incident only as mob lynching. He also claimed that two accused had prior involvement in a CPI(M)–RSS clash.
The police have taken several suspects into custody and said more arrests are likely as the probe continues.
Baghel, survived by his wife and two children, had migrated to Kerala for work. His death adds to growing concern over mob violence against migrant workers and minorities in the country.
