Within hours of the declaration of local body election results, the police have reportedly intensified efforts to trace those linked to the Ambayathode violence, which occurred on October 21 during a mass protest against a poultry waste rendering unit. Special squads have been deployed to trace at least 70 more persons from a list of nearly 100 individuals identified as having key roles in the incident.
According to police sources, 32 people have been arrested so far from various parts of the Kozhikode district.
These include persons who allegedly helped local action committee leaders evade arrest and others who reportedly infiltrated the group of protesters and attacked police personnel.
Among those in the list is Babu Kudukkil, chairman of the local action committee, against whom a lookout notice had been issued. Although he won the election from the Thamarassery panchayat, the police said he remained untraceable.
Meanwhile, action committee leaders warned of indefinite agitations if “retaliatory legal measures” continued. They alleged that the police attempted to create an atmosphere of intimidation near some rural polling stations in Kozhikode targeting voters who had participated in the protest.
However, police officials associated with the probe rejected the allegations, stating that the investigation had been progressing in connection with the attack on senior police officers during the clash.
Published – December 14, 2025 07:05 pm IST
