Questions Raised Over Media Downplaying RSS Links in Walayar Lynching Case

Palakkad: Questions are being raised over several media allegedly downplaying the RSS links of the accused in the lynching of a migrant worker at Attappallam in Valayar, where a Chhattisgarh native was beaten to death after being accused of theft. Of the five people arrested in connection with the murder of Ramnarayan Bhayyal (31) from Bilaspur, four are reportedly active BJP–RSS workers.

The accused, who are stated to be involved in several criminal cases, allegedly assaulted Ramnarayan while shouting that he was a “Bangladeshi national.” Ramnarayan had arrived near the KINFRA industrial park at Kanjikode about a month ago in search of work. He succumbed to injuries at the district hospital on the evening of the 18th after being brutally beaten.

The next day, a section of the media published reports under headlines such as “What kind of Kerala is this?”, which critics allege attempted to shift the focus of the incident against the state government. Police had already arrested some of the accused on the same day. However, after it emerged that four of them were RSS workers, the coverage was allegedly toned down the following day, according to the criticism.

Those remanded include A Anu, C Prasad, C Murali (all residents of Attappallam) and K Bipin of East Attappallam, along with another accused. Murali and Anu are also accused in a case from 15 years ago involving the assault of CITU and DYFI workers, which is still pending trial.

Reports also note that those who came to court to see the accused included BJP workers. Among them was R Jineesh, an RSS worker and an accused in the murder case of SDPI worker Subair, further intensifying political controversy around the case.