Repeated cases of sex offenders targeting random women have been reported in the city, raising security concerns. At least five men have been arrested from different parts of the city for allegedly harassing women in separate incidents recently.
While Ernakulam North police and Ernakulam Central police arrested two each, Maradu police arrested the fifth person.
Muhammed Anshad (19) of Vaduthala and Muhammed Raziq (18) of Pulleppada were arrested by the Ernakulam North police for allegedly harassing a young woman at Shenoy Cross Road in Kaloor. Police sources said the duo is suspected in at least three similar crimes. They roamed the city on motorbikes targeting women in isolated areas.
Police targeted the duo while investigating an incident on Thursday (January 15, 2026) evening where they allegedly sexually harassed a woman near a women’s hostel in Kaloor. “After a FIR was registered against them, we came to know that they were involved in similar crimes earlier. However, the survivors in the previous cases were not willing to file formal complaints for various reasons,” said a police officer.
In another incident, Jipson Rodriguez of Mulavukad and Yasar Arafath of Nayarambala, both in their 40s, were nabbed by the Central Police for allegedly harassing a woman who was sitting in a restaurant on Veekshanam Road along with her husband. The alleged incident took place on Saturday (January 17, 2026).
In both cases, the police identified the accused on the basis of CCTV footage.
Earlier in the month, Maradu police reportedly arrested a 20-year-old man for allegedly groping a Plus One student at Bank Road, Vyttila as she was returning home with her grandfather. All the accused were in custody.
Regarding the security concerns raised by the repeated incidents, Juvvanapudi Mahesh, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Law and Order (Kochi City), said the police are conducting intensive patrols to prevent such crimes. “Whenever an incident is reported, they are immediately arrested. We have been constantly monitoring potential offenders. There has been no pattern as such in the recent incidents,” the officer said.
Published – 19 Jan 2026 22:47 IST
