In a deeply disturbing incident of mob violence, a 31-year-old migrant labourer from Chhattisgarh, Ramnarayan Baghel, was beaten to death by a mob in Kerala’s Palakkad district after being falsely suspected of theft. Ramnarayan, who had travelled to Kerala in search of livelihood, did not even carry a mobile phone. Police were able to identify and contact his family only after finding a piece of paper with phone numbers in his pocket.
The incident occurred on Wednesday in Attappallam village, where Ramnarayan was allegedly mistaken for a thief. Five people have been arrested so far in connection with the lynching.
Went to Kerala to Support His Family
Ramnarayan Baghel, a resident of Karahi village in Sakti district of Chhattisgarh, belonged to the Satanami community, a Scheduled Caste group in the state. A father of two young sons aged nine and ten, he was the sole breadwinner of his family, which also includes his ailing mother.
According to family members, Ramnarayan owned a small piece of land, but income from farming was insufficient to sustain the household. Daily wage work fetched him only ₹200–300 per day, making survival increasingly difficult amid rising inflation. Like many from his village, he decided to migrate to Kerala, hoping for better wages.
Fatal Misunderstanding
As per local accounts, Ramnarayan was seen near women working under the MGNREGS scheme on Wednesday afternoon. When he allegedly checked a bag—reportedly containing food—belonging to one of the women, they raised an alarm, suspecting theft. Hearing the commotion, several local men rushed to the spot and assaulted him brutally.
The beating resulted in severe internal injuries, leading to Ramnarayan’s death on the spot.
Family Traced Through a Piece of Paper
Ramnarayan did not own a mobile phone. Instead, he carried important phone numbers written on a small piece of paper in his pocket. Using this paper, the Kerala Police managed to contact his brother and later informed the family about the tragedy.
His uncle, Kishan, said Ramnarayan had studied only up to Class 6 and had gone to Kerala alone a few days earlier. “He thought he would earn better there. He was struggling here. If the government helps his family, it will mean a lot, because he was the only earning member,” he said.
Wife Brings Back the Body
On Saturday, Ramnarayan’s wife travelled to Kerala and brought back her husband’s body. The incident has left the family devastated, pushing them into financial and emotional distress.
Government Assures Assistance
Sakti Collector Amrit Vikas Topno confirmed that Palakkad District Collector Madhavikutty MS had sought details about the deceased. He said compensation would be provided to the family and that the Chhattisgarh government would also extend necessary support.
The brutal killing has once again raised serious concerns over mob lynching, migrant labour safety, and social prejudice, underscoring how poverty and misinformation can turn fatal for the most vulnerable.
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