Mananthavady: Police have identified a man who allegedly dragged a tribal man for about 500 meters along the tarred road while driving a Maruti Swift car on the Mananthavady-Pulpally road at Payyampalli on Sunday afternoon. 

The accused was identified as Arshid, a native of Kaniyampatta near Kalpetta in Wayanad. Other accused involved in the torture of the tribal man were his three friends. Police also seized the vehicle involved in the crime from the house of Arshid's close relative. The family did not know that the vehicle was kept at their home after committing such a heinous crime.

Soon after the reports of the brutal dragging of the tribal man started appearing in news channels, the family residing near Mananthavadi informed the police that the vehicle involved in the incident was parked at their home. Soon, the police team from Mananthavady rushed to the spot and brought the vehicle to Mananthavady police station. 

The incident stemmed from a clash between two groups of tourists at the check dam in Koodalkadavu. When local residents intervened to mediate, a young man from one group attempted to assault a local. Mathan, a 40-year-old tribal man from Koodalkadavu, questioned the act, prompting the tourists to flee in their car. According to police, an enraged individual inside the car grabbed Mathan by the hand and dragged him along while another person drove the vehicle. Two locals were also injured during a scuffle between the tourists and local residents.

Locals alleged that the tourists appeared to be either drunk or under the influence of drugs. The tourists released Mathan only after a commotion from the crowd. He was later admitted to the Government Medical College with serious leg injuries from being dragged on the road.

According to police, Muhammed Saif, a resident of Kuttippuram, owns the car involved, which has a Malappuram registration number. Mananthavady Inspector Sunil Gopi told Onmanorama that a case was filed on Sunday, and Mathan’s statement has been recorded at the hospital. A probe is underway to locate the Maruti Swift (KL 52 H 8733), and police believe it is still in the area. Surveillance around local resorts and homestays has been increased, as authorities suspect the vehicle may be hidden nearby.

The accused face charges under various sections, including Section 296B of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS) for causing public nuisance, Section 110(3) for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, Section 352 for provocation, Section 126 for wrongful restraint, and Section 115 for causing intentional harm. Police are confident the culprits will be apprehended soon. CCTV footage from local shops, houses, and border checkposts has been collected to track the vehicle and its occupants.

In the wake of the incident, several tribal organisations have protested and demanded strict action against the perpetrators.

Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Communities OR Kelu has directed the Wayanad Superintendent of Police to take immediate action. He condemned the extreme mistreatment of the tribal man and the misbehaviour towards other tourists and locals, which led to the altercation at the tourist spot. "Such actions tarnish the reputation of the destination and could have long-lasting negative effects on tourism," he said.

Intervening in the brutal incident Kerala State Human Rights Commission also ordered strict action against the culprits for the brutal crime by the tourists. In order to Wayanad Superintendent of Police, a judicial member of the SHRC, K Baijunath, called for immediate action and asked him to submit a report at the earliest.