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Baghel belonged to the Satnami Samaj, a Scheduled Caste (SC) community with a significant population in Chhattisgarh. Besides his wife, he is survived by his ailing mother, wife and two sons – aged 10 and nine.
For years, Ramnarayan Baghel, a father of two, had been making a living working as a construction labourer in Sakti district of Chhattisgarh. The small piece of land that he owned in his Karhi village of Hasaud tehsil fetched him barely anything, and with expenses mounting, the Rs 200-300 that he was making as a daily wager was also proving to be inadequate.
That is when he decided to move hundreds of kilometres away, to Kerala where a number of people from his village were working.
Earlier this week, the Dalit man was beaten to death, allegedly by a group of men on the suspicion of being a thief, in Kerala’s Palakkad district.
Back home, Baghel’s uncle Kishan said the 31-year-old was living hand to mouth before he left for Kerala.
“Ramnarayan had a small piece of land but farming was not enough to sustain a living. He had studied up to the sixth standard. The family lived hand to mouth. You do not get regular work here. Whenever he found work, he made Rs 300 a day. He thought he would get better wages in Kerala. He used to say that a few men from his village had gone to the southern state. He might have spoken to them on the phone. He went alone to Kerala a few days ago,” said Kishan, who also works as a labourer.
On Saturday, Baghel’s wife travelled to Kerala to claim his body.
Baghel belonged to the Satnami Samaj, a Scheduled Caste (SC) community with a significant population in Chhattisgarh. Besides his wife, he is survived by his ailing mother, wife and two sons – aged 10 and nine.
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Kishan said, “He did not use a mobile phone but carried around phone numbers on a piece of paper.”
It was one of these pieces of paper that helped police contact Baghel’s brother after he was attacked.
“He has one elder brother but he, too, is a labourer. It would be of great help if the government can help his wife and children as he was the sole breadwinner for them,” Kishan said.
Speaking to The Indian Express over phone, Sakti Collector Amrit Vikas Topno said, “I received a phone call from Madhavikutty MS, who is the collector in Palakkad district, seeking information on Baghel. They said they will provide compensation to his family.” Topno said the Chhattisgarh government will also try to help Baghel’s family.
Baghel was killed on Wednesday in Attappallam village where he had been wandering since Tuesday. According to a panchayat member, Sivaraman, Ramnarayan was spotted near a group of women engaged in work under the MGNREGS on Wednesday afternoon. When he started rummaging through one of their bags, in which they usually keep meals, these women raised an alarm. A group of men, who were nearby, rushed to the spot and allegedly assaulted him, which led to his death due to internal injuries. Five men who allegedly assaulted him have been arrested.
Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh. With an extensive career in frontline journalism, he reports on the political, security, and humanitarian landscape of Central India. Expertise and Experience Specialized Conflict Reporting: Jayprakash is a leading voice on the Maoist/Naxalite conflict in the Bastar region. His reporting provides a critical, ground-level view of: Internal Security: Tracking high-stakes encounters, surrender programs for senior Maoist leaders, and the establishment of security camps in formerly inaccessible "heartland" villages. Tribal Rights & Displacement: Investigative reporting on the identity and land struggles of thousands of displaced tribals fleeing conflict zones for neighboring states. Governance & Bureaucratic Analysis: He consistently monitors the evolution of Chhattisgarh as it marks 25 years of statehood, covering: Electoral Politics: Analyzing the shift in power between the BJP and Congress and the impact of regional tribal movements. Public Policy: Reporting on landmark infrastructure projects (e.g., mobile connectivity in remote zones) and judicial interventions, such as High Court rulings on civil and family law. Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in: Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel. Legal & Human Rights: Investigative pieces for platforms like Article-14, focusing on police accountability and custodial deaths across India. Environmental & Social Justice: Authoritative reporting on the Hasdeo Aranya forest protests and the approval of major tiger reserves, highlighting the tension between industrial mining and environmental preservation. ... Read More
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