According to police, Bhayar was attacked on allegations that he was involved in a theft at Kizhakeattappallam near Walayar. As per the FIR, the incident occurred before 7.40 pm. Police said a detailed investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events.

According to a report by Onmanorama, the autopsy revealed that Bhayar was brutally assaulted with a stick and had sustained more than 80 injuries from head to toe. The post-mortem report confirmed that he died due to severe assault and excessive bleeding caused by head injuries, and also noted internal bleeding.

The report said Bhayar, who was intoxicated at the time, had not committed any theft. Following the assault, he collapsed after vomiting blood and was allegedly abandoned on the roadside for nearly four hours before being taken to hospital by the police.

Onmanorama further reported that after visuals of the brutal assault surfaced, police took around 10 people into custody, following which the arrests of five accused were formally recorded.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the incident, the State Human Rights Commission ordered a probe and directed the Palakkad district police chief to submit a report within three weeks.

The killing has revived memories of the 2018 lynching of Madhu, a tribal youth from the Kadukumanna settlement in Attappady, who was beaten to death by a mob after being accused of theft. Disturbing visuals of that assault had triggered nationwide outrage, and 13 of the 14 accused were later sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 1 lakh each.