Kozhikode Rural police have launched a focused investigation, naming 321 individuals suspected of being heavily involved in a recent violent clash. The incident occurred at a private poultry waste treatment facility in Ambayathode, near Thamarassery, during a protest against the plant. The probe is now under the direct supervision of Deputy Inspector General of Police (Kannur Range) Yathish Chandra.
Among those charged, T. Meharoof, a local leader of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), has been identified as the prime accused in the initial police report. Investigators are actively reviewing surveillance footage from the scene to identify additional suspects who participated in the confrontation and attacked police personnel.
During the melee, several senior police officers, including Kozhikode Rural Superintendent of Police K.E. Baiju, sustained injuries. The violence erupted when officers attempted to disperse a crowd that turned aggressive while protesting against the factory’s alleged environmental pollution. Preliminary assessments estimate the total damage from the incident to be around ₹5 crore.
Following an initial review, DIG Chandra characterized the incident as an ‘organized attack’ where women and children were reportedly used as human shields against the police. He assured that all attackers would be brought to justice through a thorough, scientific investigation involving various specialized teams. Notably, 16 police officers, including the Station House Officer of Thamarassery police station, suffered severe injuries.
Protesters Present Their Side
Leaders of an action committee, which organized the protest and later called for a local shutdown in parts of Thamarassery, have strongly criticized the DIG’s statements. They claim police are deliberately misrepresenting the six-year-long agitation as an ‘organized crime’ to suppress their legitimate concerns and persecute innocent citizens. The committee also refuted the assertion that women and children were deliberately used as shields.
However, police officers involved in the ongoing inquiry countered these claims, stating that masked agitators set fire to the factory building and several vehicles while laborers were still inside. They provided video evidence to support their assertion that there were intentional efforts to obstruct fire engines and endanger police officers who were attempting to manage the volatile situation. Charges have been filed under Sections 109 (attempts to murder) and 191 (rioting) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.