Within hours of the declaration of local body election results, police reportedly stepped up efforts to track down those linked to the violence in Ambayathoda that occurred on October 21 during a mass protest against a poultry waste processing unit. Special forces have been deployed to track down at least 70 other people from a list of nearly 100 people found to have key roles in the incident.
According to police sources, 32 people have been arrested so far from different parts of Kozhikode district.
These include individuals who allegedly helped local action committee leaders evade arrest and others who allegedly infiltrated a group of protesters and assaulted police personnel.
Among those on the list is Babu Kudukkil, chairman of the local action committee, against whom a notice has been issued. Though he won the election from Thamarassery panchayat, the police said he remained untraceable.
Meanwhile, action committee leaders have warned of unrestricted agitations if “retaliatory legal measures” continue. They alleged that the police tried to create an atmosphere of intimidation near some rural polling stations in Kozhikode targeting voters who participated in the protest.
However, police officials associated with the investigation rejected the allegations, saying that investigations were progressing into an attack on senior police officers during the encounter.
Published – 14 Dec 2025 19:05 IST
