Mob Violence Against Migrants in India
In late 2025, India witnessed several violent incidents targeting migrants, who were wrongly labeled as foreigners such as Bangladeshis and Chinese. These incidents revealed a worrying trend of mob violence based on stereotypes related to language, region, appearance, or presumed nationality.
Key Incidents
- Kerala Incident: On December 17, Ram Narayan Baghel, a 31-year-old migrant worker from Chhattisgarh, was lynched in Palakkad district. Accused of theft, Baghel was questioned about his identity and called "Bangladeshi" before being beaten to death. This incident tarnished Kerala's reputation, which prides itself on education and law and order.
- Odisha Incidents:
- On December 24, in Sambalpur, Juel Sheikh, a young migrant worker from West Bengal, was beaten to death by a mob accusing him of being "Bangladeshi".
- Two days later, a Bengali-speaking street vendor from West Bengal was assaulted.
- Tamil Nadu Incident: In Tiruvallur district, a man from Odisha was attacked on a train by juveniles with machetes and sickles, with the assault being circulated on social media.
- Dehradun Incident: On December 28, Anjel Chakma, a 22-year-old student from Tripura, was stabbed after being subjected to racial slurs, dying later in hospital. He was derogatorily called "Chinese" during the attack.
Broader Context
These incidents are part of a larger pattern of mob intimidation across India, sometimes targeting minority community worshippers or even young students at social gatherings. Despite some arrests, the police response has been insufficient.
