Repeated incidents of attacks on police personnel on duty have raised concerns within the force, prompting calls for stricter implementation of security protocols and stronger legal action against perpetrators. At least five such incidents have been reported from different parts of Ernakulam district in the last three months, while the number of unreported cases could be higher, according to police insiders.
The extent of personal risk involved in enforcing the law was evident in the latest incident reported from the district in which an assistant sub-inspector of Ernakulam Town North station was allegedly hit by a car in Kaloor. The incident occurred when a police team reportedly tried to intercept the vehicle during a night patrol on February 25.
Two days earlier, two youths were arrested for allegedly assaulting a policeman on crowd control duty during the Sivaratri celebrations in Aluva Manappuram.
In January, a 23-year-old man from Njarackal was arrested for allegedly assaulting police officers from the Infopark police station and damaging a police vehicle. He allegedly caused a ruckus when he was taken to hospital for a medical examination after being arrested for allegedly causing a public disorder while under the influence of alcohol.
In another incident, a sub-inspector of the state special branch at Ernakulam Town North station was allegedly assaulted by a minor boy on January 27 on Market Road near Kaloor Metro station.
Earlier, in December 2025, two young brothers from Varanad near Cherthala were booked for allegedly assaulting a sub-inspector of Ernakulam Town North station under the influence of drugs.
District Superintendent of Police (Kochi City) Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar took a serious note of the related incidents and said that security protocols are being intensified to deal with various scenarios. “Protective equipment has been made mandatory to deal with expected law and order situations. Police officers have also been instructed not to go alone to pick up the suspect. Vehicle checkpoints are identified and proper barricades will be provided,” the officer said.
The Kerala Police Association (KPA) has been highlighting the issue in its recent district meetings across the state. “One of the key demands we have raised through the resolutions is a stricter legal framework to protect police personnel from physical attacks and smear campaigns. Our long-standing demand for increased risk allowances has also become more relevant in recent times,” said Shiburaj K., District President, KPA (Kochi City).
The recent incidents in Thiruvananthapuram where a policeman was attacked inside a mall by a group of alleged SFI workers and a police team was tricked by alleged DYFI activists have further highlighted the vulnerability of the police force at the state level.
Published – March 1, 2026 7:54 PM IST
