PV Anvar, Independent MLA from Nilambur, Kerala, was arrested on January 5, for allegedly vandalising the Nilambur Divisional Forest Office during a protest against the death of a tribal man, Mani, who was killed by a wild elephant in the Karulai forest range. The Nilambur Police arrested Anvar along with 10 others and charged them under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. Following the arrest, Anvar was remanded to 14 days of judicial custody.
The protest, led by Anvar and his supporters, was sparked by allegations of negligence by the forest department in addressing human-animal conflicts in the region. Mani was fatally attacked by an elephant on January 4 in the Karulai forest range.
The MLA has been charged with destruction of public property, obstructing police in performing their duties, and other related offences. Calling his arrest “administrative terrorism,” Anvar accused the state government of using police to target him for his criticism of the Left Democratic Front. “I was treated like a criminal. I would have surrendered if served a notice. There was no need for this late-night drama,” he said. He also stated, “This is a political vendetta, and I will show what I can do if I come back alive.”
The arrest has drawn widespread condemnation from opposition leaders. Congress leaders, including Ramesh Chennithala and K Sudhakaran, described the arrest as “state terror” and a “high-level political conspiracy.” Many have accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s government of stifling dissent and targeting political adversaries.
Members of Democratic Movement of Kerala (DMK), founded by Anvar, staged demonstrations outside the district forest office, alleging that the forest department’s negligence was responsible for Mani’s death.
