Kozhikode: The State Human Rights Commission has registered a case against the police for assaulting the protesters at Pozhikkavu in Chelannur. The panel's judicial member, K Baiju Nath, sent a notice to the Kozhikode rural police chief asking the official to submit an inquiry report within a week. The case will be considered in the next sitting to be held on January 30, 2025, at the Government Guest House, Kozhikode, the panel said. 

The Commission registered a case suo motu, based on media reports.

On Sunday, tension broke out after members of Janakeeya Samara Samithi marched to Pozhikkavu hill, where ordinary earth is being extracted for road widening works.

The police blocked them, forcing the protesters to stage a road blockade. Police then forcibly removed the protesters from the road, leading to a skirmish with the police. Nine protesters were injured in the police assault, Samithi said. 

The Samithi members said cops manhandled them. "The Janakeeya Samithi alleged that the police started to manhandle them without provocation. P Suresh Kumar, the grama panchayat standing committee chairman, was dragged through the road and was injured. There was a complaint that the male police officials assaulted women protesters,"  the Commission observed.

For the last few months, the construction company has been extracting earth by demolishing hills to widen the National Highway. This led to widespread protests from locals, who raised concerns over ecological impact and safety issues. Mining was temporarily halted following the intervention of the District Collector. However, the construction company resumed mining on Saturday, accompanied by police and officials from the district administration. This provoked tension among the residents, who tried blocking the vehicles.