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Mob violence in Kerala: Congress slams Pinarayi Vijayan govt over lynching of Chhattisgarh migrant worker in Palakkad

The Congress party has strongly criticized Kerala's Pinarayi Vijayan government after a migrant worker from Chhattisgarh was brutally lynched by a mob in Palakkad, citing a 'complete failure' in maintaining law and order in Kerala

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan | Sanjay Ahlawat

The Congress on Sunday lashed out at the Pinarayi Vijayan government over the mob lynching of a migrant worker in Kerala. The Congress has demanded compensation for the kin of a Chhattisgarh migrant worker.

Condoling the death of a Chhattisgarh migrant worker in Palakkad, Kerala, Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal said the mob lynching incident was "shocking" and unacceptable. "The memory of what happened to Madhu in 2018 is still fresh, and now we have seen this incident. It is deplorable how a society with a rich history of communal harmony like Kerala is seeing repeated instances of mob violence," Venugopal said in a post on X.

Ram Narayan Baghel, a migrant worker from Chhattisgarh, was lynched to death by a mob near Palakkad, Kerala, allegedly doubting him to be a thief. The 31-year-old daily wager reached Kerala on December 13 in search of work and faced the attack on December 19. According to Kerala police, Baghel suffered brutal assault, and he suffered over 80 injuries. Kerala police have so far arrested five persons in connection with the case.

"The Kerala Government has displayed a completely lackadaisical attitude in curbing the spread of fear-based propaganda and unchecked rumour-mongering. They must answer for the lack of timely action and their complete failure in managing the law and order situation in the state," Venugopal said. 

The Congress leader and Kerala MP urged the Left government to provide immediate and adequate compensation to the victim’s family. He also urged the Kerala government to make arrangements for the transport of his mortal remains.