Midnight police search for Arjun Ayanki triggers political row
A midnight police search for a fugitive in Kattamala has sparked a political controversy involving the CPI(M). Local residents and party officials allege the police acted without permission and were motivated by political animosity.
Why it matters
The incident raises concerns regarding police conduct, civil liberties, and the intersection of law enforcement with local political rivalries.
A midnight police search for history-sheeter Arjun Ayanki in Kattamala near Mallappally has triggered a political controversy, with the CPI(M) accusing the police of raiding homes without permission even after they had traced him to Kannur.
According to local residents, a large police contingent arrived in Kattamala, a residential area with around 60 houses, in eight vehicles after 11.30 p.m. on Saturday. The police first searched the house of Nithin Kumar, secretary of the Mallappally East local committee of the CPI(M), and subsequently the residence of Rahul, area president of the SFI. “Although I told the Circle Inspector, who first approached me around 10.30 p.m., that I had only heard about Arjun Ayanki through social media and had never met him in person, he returned with a large police contingent and searched our houses without permission,” Mr. Kumar told the media.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in