Independent MLA PV Anvar, who floated his own movement after quitting the Left Democratic Front (LDF), has been arrested for attacking the Divisional Forest Office (North) in Nilambur. Dramatic scenes were witnessed in the late hours of Sunday, January 5 after the police deployed a large number of personnel outside Anvar’s house. After an hour of impasse, Anvar came out and surrendered himself to the police.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), Anvar unlawfully gathered outside the forest office to protest against the death of a tribal youth on Sunday morning, with 40 workers. The FIR states that around 10 identifiable workers pushed the police officials and caused significant damage to the property, destroying items including a clock, tubelight, chairs, tables, and the office room door.
Anvar came down heavily on the Pinarayi Vijayan government and compared him to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is unleashing a rule of terror through the police force. There was no need for the police to create such drama at night by surrounding my house to arrest me while a notice would have sufficed. Pinarayi turned into my enemy after I exposed police excess. He is a tyrant worse than PM Modi,” Anvar said.
He accused the Chief Minister of succumbing to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) forces and added that he was only speaking in support of Christian farmers residing in forest areas.
A 35-year-old man identified as Mani was killed in an elephant attack on January 4. The incident happened around 7 pm while he was returning home after dropping his children at a tribal hostel in Nilambur. Despite forest staff getting him to a hospital, Mani succumbed to the injuries.
The state government announced a solatium of Rs 10 lakh to the family. Anvar and workers of Democratic Movement of Kerala (DMK) protested in front of the forest office in connection with this incident.
Anvar became an MLA contesting as the LDF-supported independent candidate in 2016. Despite controversies related to encroachment of lands and illegal constructions, the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) fielded him again in 2021 and he was re-elected.
Anvar was remanded to 14-day judicial custody over the incident and sent to Tavanur sub-jail in Malappuram district. A case has been registered against Anvar under sections 189 (2), 191 (2), 329 (3), 332 (C), 132, 121, 190 of the Indian Penal Code, along with the BNS & PDPP Act.