The death of a migrant worker in Palakkad after an alleged mob assault has revived troubling memories of the 2018 Madhu lynching, once again putting Kerala’s record on mob violence under scrutiny.

Ram Narayan (31), a native of Chhattisgarh, died after being allegedly beaten by a group of people in Palakkad who accused him of theft. He had arrived in Kanjikode just a week earlier to take up work at the KINFRA Park.

The incident took place around 3 pm on Wednesday at Attappallam, under the limits of the Walayar police station.

Ram Narayan was found behaving suspiciously near houses and shops at a site where MGNREGA workers were engaged in work. There were indications that he was drunk.

After the workers alerted nearby youths, a group reached the spot and detained him. He was allegedly assaulted during this period and reportedly vomited blood before collapsing.

Police arrived at the scene around 7 pm and shifted Ram Narayan to the district hospital in an ambulance. However, he collapsed again while being taken through Pudussery. Doctors confirmed his death upon arrival at the Palakkad district hospital.

A preliminary examination found injury marks across Ram Narayan’s body, including serious head injuries.

As no police surgeon was available at the district hospital, the body was shifted to Thrissur Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination.

The Walayar police have taken 15 people from Attappallam into custody in connection with the incident.

Police said further action would be taken after receiving the post-mortem report, adding that investigations were ongoing to ascertain whether more people were involved.

Incident recalls 2018 Madhu lynching

The case has drawn comparisons with the killing of Madhu (28), a tribal youth from Attappadi, in 2018. Madhu, who was said to be mentally ill, was beaten to death on February 22 after being caught in a cave in the Ajamudi forest.

He was tied up and brutally assaulted by a group of locals who accused him of theft — a case that triggered nationwide outrage and renewed debates on mob violence.