3 weeks ago
CPI(M) to Complain Against Police Over Late-Night Searches for Ayanki
One late night, police came to a town called Mallappally in Kerala, India, looking for a man named Arjun Ayanki.
They woke people up and searched their houses.
Some residents said police searched their homes while they were asleep.
A political party called CPI(M) is upset about this.
The party thinks the police were too rough and only searched the homes of its supporters.
The police say they got a tip that Ayanki was hiding there.
The party says police should have used phone signals and street cameras to check the tip first.
Ayanki was found and arrested in another place called Kannur.
The party says that if the police officers are not punished, there will be big protests.
The party also says Ayanki is not really one of them, even though he says he supports them.
CPI(M) will lodge complaints with the Kerala Chief Minister, Home Minister and SHRC over late-night police searches of party supporters' homes in Mallappally while tracing history-sheeter Arjun Ayanki.
District secretary Raju Abraham alleged about eight police vehicles woke residents, including the elderly, and barged into homes, calling the conduct a human rights violation.
Police said they acted on a specific tip-off about Ayanki's presence; Abraham questioned why mobile tower locations and CCTV footage were not checked before the searches.
Ayanki, a native of Azhikode in Kannur, was arrested in Kannur; he first drew attention in 2021 over a gold smuggling network through Karipur airport.
Abraham warned of intense protests under CPI(M) leadership if action is not taken against the officers involved.
- Who
- CPI(M), led by district secretary Raju Abraham in filing complaints; Kerala Police officers who searched homes while tracing Arjun Ayanki.
- What
- CPI(M) announced it will complain to Kerala authorities over alleged late-night police searches of party supporters' residences in Mallappally.
- Where
- Kattamala near Mallappally in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala.
- When
- The searches occurred late Saturday night; the complaints were announced on Sunday, August 9, 2026.
- Why
- Police were acting on a specific tip-off that Ayanki was in the area; CPI(M) says the searches violated residents' rights and targeted its supporters.
CPI(M) and residents
Kerala Police
Conduct of the late-night searches
CPI(M) and residents
About eight police vehicles woke residents, including the elderly, barged into an SFI leader's home and kicked open a woman's door — alleged human rights violations.
Kerala Police
Police said they had received a specific tip-off about Ayanki's presence in the area and were searching for a history-sheeter wanted in a fresh case.
Verification of the tip-off
CPI(M) and residents
Police should have verified the tip-off using mobile tower locations and roadside CCTV cameras; Abraham asked whether the Kerala Police had conducted any such investigation.
Kerala Police
The article reports no police response to the verification question; police proceeded on the tip-off and Ayanki was later arrested in Kannur.
Targeting of CPI(M) supporters
CPI(M) and residents
Abraham alleged searches specifically targeted CPI(M) supporters' residences, including a local party secretary's home.
Kerala Police
The searches were part of the manhunt for Ayanki; the article reports no police reply to the targeting allegation.
Key facts
- Complainant
- CPI(M), through district secretary Raju Abraham
- Complaints submitted to
- Chief Minister V D Satheesan, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and the SHRC
- Search location
- Kattamala near Mallappally, Pathanamthitta district, Kerala
- Timing
- Late Saturday night searches; complaints announced Sunday, August 9, 2026
- Subject of manhunt
- History-sheeter Arjun Ayanki, later arrested in Kannur
- Police deployment
- About eight police vehicles
- Contested claim
- Police cite a specific tip-off; CPI(M) questions why it was not verified
- Ayanki's background
- Native of Azhikode, Kannur; linked to a 2021 gold smuggling network via Karipur airport; Kerala High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea
Quotes
Raju Abraham
District Secretary, CPI(M) Pathanamthitta
““If Ayanki had come here, wouldn’t the police have had his mobile tower location details to verify that? Aren’t there CCTV cameras all along the roads here? Did the police conduct any such investigation? Is the Kerala Police so incompetent?””
theprint.in
““Yes, they came to my house too. While I was sleeping inside, I came out and saw the police. Right away, they searched my entire house, including near my bed.””
theprint.in
Sources
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