Clash at poultry waste rendering unit in Kozhikode: Police book 321 suspects, including DYFI leader

A special squad formed by the Kozhikode Rural police has booked 321 identifiable persons accused of having key involvement in a clash that broke out at a private slaughterhouse waste treatment company at Ambayathode near Thamarassery in Kozhikode on Tuesday (October 21, 2025) during a protest against the plant. The investigation is now progressing under the direct supervision of senior police officers led by Deputy Inspector General of Police (Kannur Range) [DIG] Yathish Chandra.

T. Meharoof, a local leader of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), was named the prime accused in the first information report (FIR). A senior police officer with the investigation team said more suspects who took part in the clash and attacked police officers would soon be identified after examining surveillance camera visuals from the spot.

During the clash, senior police officers, including Superintendent of Police (Kozhikode Rural) K.E. Baiju, had sustained injuries. The clash broke out when the police tried to disperse the crowd that turned violent in front of the plant as part of an ongoing protest against the alleged environmental pollution created by the factory. The total loss, as per the initial estimates, was ₹5 crore. 

Based on the preliminary investigation report, the DIG had stated it as an “organised attack” on police officers using women and children as shields. He also said the attackers would be exposed through a scientific investigation with the support of different investigation teams as 16 police officers, including the Station House Officer of the Thamarassery police station, sustained serious injuries in the incident.

Police sources said the crime spot was inspected by the investigation team in the presence of Inspector General of Police Rajpal Meena as part of gathering more evidence and visuals from closed circuit television cameras. They said 10 vehicles, including trucks, auto-rickshaws and motorcycles, were set afire by the protesters. Many other vehicles were damaged in stone pelting and vandalism, they said, adding that the cases were registered under Sections 109 (attempts to murder) and 191 (rioting) under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Protesters’ stance

Meanwhile, the leaders of an action committee which spearheaded the protest and observed a hartal in different parts of Thamarassery on Wednesday (October 22, 2025) criticised the DIG and alleged that the police were purposefully trying to portray it as an “organised crime” to suppress an agitation which was launched six years ago and to torture innocent people. They also condemned the DIG’s statement that women and children were used as shields during the protest.

Countering the action committee’s claims, the police officers associated with the probe on Wednesday said the factory building and the vehicles were set afire by masked agitators when many labourers were working inside the factory. Citing video footage as evidence, they pointed out that there were deliberate attempts to block fire engines to the spot and endanger the police officers who tried to manage the situation.