Innocent Migrant Brutally Lynched by Mob in Kerala, Sparks Concerns Over Rising Xenophobia

A shocking incident in Kerala’s Palakkad district has once again highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by migrant workers in India. On December 17, 31-year-old Ram Narayan Baghel, a migrant worker from Chhattisgarh, was brutally beaten to death by a mob while seeking employment. The victim, who did not speak the local language, was mistakenly accused of theft, and despite his desperate pleas of innocence, he was mercilessly attacked in front of bystanders.

Baghel’s cousin, Shashikant Baghel, stated that a misunderstanding due to the language barrier led to the attack. Instead of handing him over to the police, the locals resorted to violence. Seven individuals have since been arrested in connection with the case.

This tragic incident sheds light on the harsh realities migrant workers face: cultural differences, language barriers, and economic insecurity. Ram Narayan Baghel’s death marks the third lynching of a migrant worker in Kerala over the past three years.

Rising Xenophobia in a Progressive State
Experts investigating the incident warn of increasing xenophobia in Kerala, a state often regarded as socially progressive. Studies suggest that hostility toward outsiders, especially those from northern and northeastern India, has been growing since the beginning of the century.

According to the Kerala State Planning Board report (2017–18), migrant workers constitute a significant portion of the workforce in the state:

• Kasaragod – 34%
• Kannur – 38%
• Thrissur – 29%
• Ernakulam – 57%
• Pathanamthitta – 61%

Most of these workers hail from West Bengal (41%), Assam (31%), Uttar Pradesh (13%), Bihar (4%), Odisha (4%), and Jharkhand (3%).

Recent Lynching Incidents

• April 2023: 24-year-old Ashok Das from Arunachal Pradesh was beaten to death in Ernakulam while visiting a female friend.
• May 2024: 37-year-old Rajesh Manjhi from Bihar was lynched in Malappuram over suspicion of theft.
• December 2025: Ram Narayan Baghel was lynched in Attapallam, Palakkad, accused of theft and mistakenly believed to be a Bangladeshi national.

The recurring attacks have alarmed civil society and raised urgent questions about the safety of migrant laborers in Kerala, highlighting the need for stronger legal safeguards and community awareness to prevent such xenophobic violence.

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