Kerala mob lynching:Chhattisgarh native’s family seeks Rs25 lakh relief

The family of a 31-year-old man from Chhattisgarh who was killed in an alleged mob lynching in Kerala has refused to receive his body, demanding stringent action against the accused and compensation of Rs25 lakh from the state government.Ram Narayan Baghel was killed on December 18 after he was attacked by a group of people at Walayar in Palakkad district, reportedly after being mistaken for a thief. According to the family, some of the attackers allegedly questioned him about his nationality during the assault.The extent of the violence emerged after doctors who conducted the post-mortem examination reported that Baghel had sustained around 30 injuries across his body.
Baghel’s wife Lalita, their two children, and his brother arrived in Kerala on Sunday and broke down after seeing his body at the Thrissur Government Medical College mortuary. Speaking to the media, his brother said Baghel was the sole earning member of the family and sought Rs25 lakh as compensation.The family has also demanded strict action in cases involving attacks on members of the Dalit community. They said they would not accept the body until their demands are addressed.State government officials were learned to be in discussions with the family to resolve the issue.Baghel had come to Kerala earlier this month in search of employment. Police have said that he was not involved in any criminal activity.Besides, the incident has drawn political reactions, with senior Congress leader K C Venugopal referring to previous instances of mob violence in the state, including the 2018 killing of tribal youth Madhu in Palakkad,said in a social media post"It is deplorable how a society with a rich history of communal harmony like Kerala is seeing repeated instances of mob violence,"