Ambayathode clash: police intensify search for suspects

Within hours of the declaration of the local body election results, police intensified efforts to trace suspects 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 who remain absconding from a list of nearly 100 individuals identified as having key roles in the incident.

According to police sources, 32 suspects have been arrested so far from various parts of Kozhikode district. These include persons who allegedly helped some local action committee leaders evade arrest and others who reportedly infiltrated the group of protesters and attacked police personnel.

Earlier, the police had reportedly considered detaining some suspects when they arrived to vote, but the move was allegedly deferred following concerns raised by investigators over the possibility of public protests. Among those currently under scrutiny is Babu Kudukkil, chairman of the local action committee, against whom a lookout notice had been issued. Although he won the election from Thamarassery panchayat, police said he remained untraceable.

Fearing arrest, several such suspects are reportedly staying away from their villages. Though there was a ‘temporary agreement’ between the police and a few people’s representatives to halt door-to-door searches, it was not followed as such in the case of prime suspects reportedly following instructions from senior police officers. 

Meanwhile, action committee leaders warned of indefinite agitations if what they termed “retaliatory legal measures” continued. They alleged that police attempted to create an atmosphere of intimidation near some rural polling stations in Kozhikode to discourage voters who had participated in the protest.

However, police officials associated with the probe rejected the allegations, stating that the investigation had been ongoing in connection with the attack on senior police officers during the clash. They added that some of the suspects face serious charges, including under Sections 109 (attempt to murder) and 191 (rioting) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.