Forest offices, KFC restaurant attacked by Maoists in Kerala

December 22, 2014

Maoists in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 22: Two weeks after Maoists and police exchanged fire in Wayanad, a Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) outlet and two offices of the Forest department were today attacked by suspected Maoists in Palakkad and Wayanad districts.

No one was injured in any of these attacks which occurred in the early hours today, police said. Billboards and the group's posters calling for armed struggle were found by police from the premises where the attacks took place.

Police said two persons were taken into custody in connection with the attack on Silent Valley Forest Range office in Palakkad district.

Security in the areas has been tightened in the wake of the attack, police added.

District police officials said the Silent Valley Forest Range office situated at Mukkola in Attapady region of Palakkad was attacked and furniture and computers were damaged.

The group also set ablaze a forest jeep parked in front of the office. Window panes of the building also were damaged in the attack, they said.

The KFC restaurant at Chandranagar in Palakkad was attacked by a group of men, police said adding that posters displaying anti-US slogans were found at the building from where it functions.

In another incident, an office of "Vana Samrakshana Samithi" (Forest aid post) was vandalized by suspected ultras at Kunhom in Vellamunda forest area in Wayanad district.

Wayanad Collector Keshvendra Kumar told PTI that modus operandi indicate that the attacks were carried out by Maoists. "Wordings in the posters and modus operandi indicate that Maoists are behind the attack," he said.

Combing operations were already on and in the wake of the latest incident, vigilance has been intensified especially in the vulnerable areas, he added.

The attacks assume significance as it comes after an exchange of fire between police and Maoists at Vellamunda in Wayanad district on December 7. It took place when personnel of Thunderbolt, a special police wing, was conducting a routine combing operation.

Wayanad had been a hotbed of Naxalite activities during the late 1960s and early 1970s and there had been instances of encounters with police.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru CEN police have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly posting provocative and misleading content on an Instagram page named “mr_a_titude”, targeting the Bajpe police.

Mangaluru Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H identified the arrested as Abhishek M, a resident of Katipalla in Mangaluru.

A case has been registered at the Bajpe Police Station under Sections 353(1)(c), 353(2), 56, and 57 read with Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the post.

According to police, the accused uploaded a photograph of a hotel on the Instagram page and alleged that accused persons in a murder case under the Bajpe police jurisdiction were being given “royal treatment” by the police, including being served beef meals daily from the hotel.

The post further accused the police of supporting criminals, misusing their authority, and betraying public trust. Police said the content was provocative in nature and aimed at inciting public outrage against the police.

Following the post, a case was registered at the Bajpe police station, and further investigation was transferred to the CEN police station.

Police records indicate that the accused has a criminal history, with multiple cases registered against him, including murder, attempt to murder, assault, and robbery at the Surathkal Police Station, and one case at the Kaup Police Station.

The Commissioner said the accused was traced and arrested using technical evidence.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: Public transport in Mangaluru is set for a state-led transformation as the government moves to deploy 100 new electric govt buses to replace unreliable private services. The initiative aims to provide a dependable alternative to private operators who have been frequently "cutting trips," leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

The announcement was made by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV during a public phone-in session. The move specifically targets routes where private bus service has become erratic, ensuring that citizens no longer have to rely on a fluctuating private sector for their daily commute.

Restoring the Govt Presence

The transport crisis was brought to the forefront by Ramayya, a resident of Bajal, who highlighted a growing trend of private buses skipping morning and night trips. With the previous KSRTC (govt) services discontinued, residents have been left without a fallback option.

To fix this, the DC confirmed that the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme will bring 100 government-owned electric buses to the city:

•    Phased Deployment: The first 50 of the new 100 government buses are scheduled to arrive by March 2026.

•    State Infrastructure: Two new government depots, including one at Mudipu, are being prepared for operations.

•    Recruitment: The state has already begun training a new batch of government bus drivers to ensure the fleet is operational the moment it arrives.

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