A chilling incident of mob violence has emerged from Kerala’s Palakkad district, where a migrant worker from Chhattisgarh lost his life after being attacked by a group of local residents. A video that surfaced later shows the assailants interrogating the man about his identity, repeatedly asking whether he was from Bangladesh, moments before the assault turned fatal.

The victim, identified as Ram Narayan Baghel, was targeted in the Attappallam area of Walayar. The footage captures a group of men surrounding him, slapping and striking him, with one attacker seen laughing as the violence escalates. Baghel reportedly collapsed during the beating and began vomiting blood.

He was rushed to the Palakkad district hospital by locals and police, but succumbed to his injuries. A post-mortem examination conducted at Thrissur Medical College revealed multiple severe injuries across his body, confirming the extreme brutality of the assault.

Police officials stated that the incident stemmed from allegations of theft, though they confirmed that no stolen items were recovered from the victim. Investigations are continuing along this line, they said.

Meanwhile, Baghel’s family has refused to accept his body, demanding stronger legal action and accountability. His brother, Shashikant, said the family belongs to the Scheduled Caste community and insisted the case be registered under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The family has also sought compensation of ₹25 lakh, stating that Baghel was the sole earning member.

Baghel’s wife Lalitha and his sons, Anuj and Akash, travelled from Chhattisgarh to Kerala after the incident. Relatives said the family was devastated after seeing his body and would remain in the state until their demands were addressed.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan assured that strict action would be taken against those responsible. He said a special investigation team headed by the Palakkad Superintendent of Police has been formed and that the government is examining the issue of compensation.

The incident has also sparked political controversy. The CPI(M) alleged that the killing reflected racial hatred, accusing the RSS of fostering such narratives. Kerala Minister MB Rajesh said questioning the victim’s nationality before attacking him showed the dangerous consequences of communal and racial profiling. He further claimed that attempts were being made to downplay the ideological angle of the crime.

The case has reignited debates around mob violence, migrant safety, and identity-based attacks, with calls growing louder for swift justice and systemic accountability.