The Hindu Bureau
All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary K.C. Venugopal, MP, expressed shock at the brutal killing of Dalit migrant worker Ram Narayan Bhagal from Chhattisgarh at Walayar in Palakkad. He strongly criticised the State government’s alleged indifference in preventing the recurrence of mob lynching.
In a statement here on Sunday (December 21, 2025), Mr. Venugopal said the State government was unwilling to even “move a finger” to ensure such crimes do not happen again. “How can the Chief Minister, who repeatedly condemns mob lynchings in north India, remain indifferent to the blood spilled on his own soil?” he asked. He added that the government cannot evade responsibility for what he termed a serious failure in maintaining law and order, and demanded that the Chief Minister respond to the incident.
The Congress leader called for immediate compensation to the victim’s family and insisted that all arrangements to transport the body to his native place be made free of cost by the State. He also demanded stringent legal action against those responsible for the mob killing.
Mr. Venugopal said another human life had been lost due to the State government’s apathy and negligence. Recalling the mob lynching of tribal youth Madhu seven years ago, he said the memory of that crime has not faded, even as Kerala witnesses yet another horrific lynching.
“Kerala, known as a progressive society that upholds equality and fraternity, becoming a stage for repeated mob trials and killings is unacceptable and must never be allowed to recur,” he said.
Published – December 21, 2025 09:07 pm IST
