Days after the lynching of Jibin Varghese, a resident of Thammanam in Kerala's Ernakulam district, National Commission for Minorities (NCM) vice chairman George Kurian on Tuesday sought a report from the CPM-led state government.

Stating that Kerala has reported "highest number of mob violence", the NCM vice chairman raised serious concerns over the "alarming rise" in lynching and mob attack cases in the state.

Varghese, an electrician by profession, was found dead along the Kakkanad–Palachuvadu road in Ernakulam district around 4 am on Saturday. He was subjected to brutal attack for almost two hours by a 14-member gang, police said.

Kurian, in his letter to state chief secretary, Director General of Police (DGP), District Magistrate and Police Commissioner of Ernakulum, said the act was "reprehensible" and demanded that "the guilty should be brought to book." DNA has an exclusive possession of the letter.

Citing several cases of lynching and mob attacks in the state in the last one year, the NCM vice chairman said, "...in a majority of such cases the victims were either members of minority communities or marginalised communities and migrant workers."

"...the rise violence is a reflection of lawlessness and loss of moral quotient in the society and the recent trend has baffled social scientists," he said.

Emphasising that Kerala has reported "highest number of mob violence" in the country, the NCM vice chairman said, "Although media highlights stray incidents of mob violence elsewhere in the country, similar incidents in Kerala rarely get national attention."

"In most cases, culprits were found to have a political association and this prevents stern police action," he said.

Kurian said such incidents have not only claimed lives but several households have become orphaned.

"Social scientists, civil society and religious organisations should step in and work to bring about awareness among youngsters," he observed.