When suspicion turns deadly: Kerala mob justice cases that raised serious alarm

Kerala, often highlighted for its high literacy rate and social development indicators, has also witnessed a series of disturbing mob violence and moral policing incidents over the past decade.

These cases have repeatedly raised concerns about vigilante justice, where individuals or groups allegedly take the law into their own hands based on suspicion, moral judgement, or accusations of petty crimes.

While the circumstances vary across cases, most incidents share a common pattern: public confrontation, physical assault without due process, and delayed or failed protection of victims by immediate intervention.

Kollam mob killing of Manik Rai (2018)

In one of the early reported incidents, Manik Rai, a migrant worker from West Bengal, was allegedly beaten to death in Anchal, Kollam on June 28, 2018.

According to reports, the incident began after he was accused of stealing a hen. He had reportedly purchased the bird from a shop nearby when a group intercepted him and questioned him. The confrontation escalated into a violent assault.

Despite local residents attempting to intervene later, Manik Rai sustained severe injuries, particularly to the head, and died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Anchal. Police later arrested two individuals in connection with the case.

Malappuram killing of Rajesh Manji (2023)

On May 13, 2023, Rajesh Manji, a migrant worker from Bihar, was killed in Kizissery near Kondotty in Malappuram district after being detained by locals on suspicion of suspicious movement near a residential area.

Reports state that he was apprehended around 1 am and assaulted for several hours until approximately 3 am. His hands were tied during the attack, and he suffered multiple injuries.

He was later taken to hospital in an unconscious state after police intervention but was declared dead on arrival. The post-mortem reportedly revealed over 100 injuries on his body.

Police arrested nine individuals, including residents of the area. Investigators also recovered CCTV footage, despite alleged attempts to destroy evidence.

Kozhikode case of Vishwanathan (2023)

In February 2023, Vishwanathan, an Adivasi youth from Wayanad, died by suicide following what has been described as a mob interrogation near Kozhikode Medical College.

He had visited the hospital along with his wife, Bindu, for the birth of their child. After the delivery, he was allegedly detained and questioned by a group of people on suspicion of theft of a mobile phone and money.

Humiliated by the incident, he reportedly left the hospital premises and was later found hanging from a tree nearby on February 11, 2023.

The case triggered widespread protests and was cited as another example of “mob trial” leading to loss of life without formal investigation.

Pookode Veterinary College incident – J.S. Siddhartha (2024)

In February 2024, J.S. Siddhartha, a second-year student at Pookode Veterinary College in Wayanad, was found hanging in a hostel bathroom.

Investigations revealed that he had allegedly been subjected to harassment, public humiliation, and physical assault by fellow students and seniors in what was described as a form of “mob trial” within the hostel environment.

The incident raised serious concerns about campus violence and institutional accountability in preventing student harassment.

Muvattupuzha Valakom case – Ashok Das (2024)

On April 4, 2024, Ashok Das (also reported in some records as Alok Das), a migrant worker from Arunachal Pradesh, died following a mob assault in Valakom near Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district.

According to police reports, he was involved in an altercation at a rented residence where he had earlier worked. Later, he was allegedly tied and assaulted by a group near a public place.

He sustained severe injuries, including head trauma and internal bleeding, and died after being taken to hospital. Ten individuals were arrested in connection with the incident.

Palakkad Walayar incident – Ramnarayan Baghel (2025)

On December 17, 2025, Ramnarayan Baghel, a migrant worker from Chhattisgarh, was killed in Attappallam, Kanjikode in Palakkad district after being attacked by a group of locals.

He was reportedly seen in a weakened condition when some workers and residents suspected him of behaving suspiciously. He was then assaulted by a group of people before police intervention.

He was taken to hospital but declared dead on arrival. Visual evidence reportedly showed him being beaten while being questioned about his identity.

The government later announced compensation for his family following public outcry.

Moral policing related killings in Kerala

Apart from suspected theft-related mob violence, Kerala has also reported deaths linked to moral policing.

In February 2015, Prabhakaran was killed in Palakkad district after being assaulted by a group who questioned his interaction with a woman. The post-mortem report suggested that a heart attack triggered during the assault was the cause of death.

In March 2023, Sahar from Thrissur was beaten to death by a group after being confronted over his visit to a female friend’s house at night. Several accused were arrested, including individuals who had fled the state and country.

Pattern and concerns

Across these incidents, a recurring pattern is visible: suspicion-based confrontation, group assault, lack of immediate legal intervention, and delayed medical assistance in some cases.

Human rights observers and legal experts have repeatedly warned that such mob actions undermine the rule of law and highlight gaps in public awareness, policing response, and conflict resolution mechanisms.

These cases continue to fuel debate on the need for stronger deterrents against vigilante violence and better protection mechanisms for vulnerable individuals, particularly migrant workers and marginalised communities in the state.