Protest against the Fresh Cut poultry waste processing unit at Ambayathode in Kozhikode on Tuesday. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
Protest against the Fresh Cut poultry waste processing unit at Ambayathode in Kozhikode on Tuesday. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
A protest march by local residents demanding the shutdown of a poultry waste processing unit at Ambayathode near Thamarassery turned violent on Tuesday, resulting in the factory being set on fire by protesters.
Meanwhile, several policemen, including Superintendent of Police (Kozhikode Rural) (SP) KE Baiju, were injured in alleged stone pelting by protesters.
Throw stones
The protesters, under the auspices of the Iruthulli Citizens’ Protest Committee, tried to block a vehicle transporting waste to the Fresh Cut Poultry Waste Processing Unit at Ambayathode. They allegedly threw stones at him, after which the police first used tear gas and later grenades to disperse the protesters. Enraged agitators reportedly set fire to the factory. They also blocked the arrival of Fire and Rescue Service vehicles at the scene.
The injured police officer was taken to a private hospital in the city. The Inspector General of Police (North Zone) reached the spot and deployed police personnel near the factory as the situation remained tense till late night.
The public protest against the plant, which is located in Kattippara grama panchayat and is the only one of its kind in the district, has been going on for several years. Residents of Thamrassera, Omassera and Kodenchery panchayats alleged that the effluent from the factory was polluting the river nearby and emitting an unpleasant smell, making life difficult for people in the neighbourhood.
Foul smell
The plant was closed for a month in May 2025 after protests, with assurances that remedial measures would be taken before reopening. However, the protest committee claimed that management had not made any changes and that the smell persisted. They also alleged that the facility was operating well beyond its capacity, resulting in the accumulation of poultry waste in its premises, resulting in a foul smell.
The Kattippara panchayat has refused to renew the factory’s license in 2024. However, the factory owners have reportedly obtained permission from the district waste management facilitation and monitoring committee. The commission demanded a complete shutdown of the plant.
Published – 21 October 2025 21:10 IST
