From Kerala to Bangladesh: Lynching highlights deep social faultlines

By A Representative 

The recent incidents of mob lynching—one in Bangladesh involving a Hindu citizen and another in Kerala where a man was killed after being mistaken for a “Bangladeshi”—have sparked outrage and calls for accountability.  

In Kerala, Ram Narayan Baghel, a Hindu Indian citizen, was beaten to death by a mob that wrongly identified him as Bangladeshi. Observers note that such acts of violence, carried out on the basis of religion, language, or nationality, are a grave violation of human rights and the rule of law.  

The incidents have drawn attention to a troubling irony: while India raises concerns about attacks on minorities abroad, within its own borders minorities, Dalits, and Bengali-speaking citizens continue to face suspicion and violence. A recent case saw a woman from West Bengal forcibly pushed into Bangladesh despite being an Indian citizen, only to be brought back after Supreme Court intervention.  

Civil rights groups have also criticised actions in Assam, where Bengali-speaking Muslims have been branded “Bangladeshi infiltrators” and homes demolished despite valid documents. Reports suggest that alleged “foreigners” have even been ordered to leave within 24 hours, raising questions about legality and humanity.  

“Whether in Bangladesh or in India, mob lynching is unacceptable,” said the Socialist Party (India), in a statement condemning both incidents. The party urged the government to act firmly against attacks on Hindus and Indian citizens abroad, while also halting coercive measures and mob violence within the country.  

The statement underscores growing concern that collective punishment and extra-legal actions are eroding constitutional values and promoting dangerous tendencies of criminalising entire communities.