Latest news with #Biju
Hans India
5 days ago
- Hans India
Kerala Police orders probe after two men jailed for 151 days over sugar candy mistaken as MDMA
Kasargod: In a disturbing case of mistaken identity and prolonged detention in Kerala, two lorry drivers -- Biju and Manikantan -- spent 151 days in jail after sugar candy was wrongly identified as MDMA. Following media reports and growing public concern, Kerala State Police Chief (SPC) has now ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident. The ordeal began last year when the two drivers, on a routine trip from Kozhikode to Kochi, stopped for tea in Kozhikode. 'We had just parked and were about to have our morning tea when some plainclothes men surrounded us. They said they were from the Kerala Police,' Biju recounted. The District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force (DANSAF), a special unit tasked with combating drug trafficking, searched their body and said they found a packet of sugar candy in Manikantan's pocket. Despite his explanation, officers insisted it was MDMA, a synthetic drug. 'When they claimed it was MDMA, Manikantan collapsed on the spot. A crowd gathered, some even recorded videos,' said Biju. Both were arrested and spent over five months in jail, only to be released after a chemical analysis confirmed that the substance was indeed sugar candy. The delay in receiving the lab report -- which should typically take 15 days -- has raised serious concerns. After their release, the drivers faced social ostracism and struggled to find employment, as many still believed they were drug offenders. In response to a formal complaint sent to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's office, the State Police Chief has now directed the Kozhikode City Police Commissioner to initiate a detailed probe, assigning the investigation to an officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police. The SPC has also sought answers on why the chemical test report was delayed, causing unnecessary and prolonged incarceration. With the case now receiving widespread media coverage, both Biju and Manikantan say they are beginning to feel a sense of relief. 'People have started to realise that we were innocent. But nothing can bring back those 151 days we lost,' said Biju. The case has sparked outrage among rights activists and civil society groups, who are now demanding accountability and compensation for the wrongful confinement.
New Indian Express
29-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Police mistake crystal sugar for meth, 2 Kerala men jailed for five months
KOZHIKODE: It was last November that Biju Mathew and Manikandan were arrested by Kozhikode Nadakkavu police with what officers alleged was methamphetamine. The two were remand for five months. Last month, however, they were released after chemical tests revealed that the material seized from them was actually crystal sugar. Biju, a 49-year-old from Kolichal in Kasaragod, is a Gulf-returned driver who went on to drive a private bus on the Kanhangad-Panathur route for decades. He had known Manikandan, 46, of Varam in Kannur, from their earlier days working on container lorries. 'I had just lost my job. I contacted Manikandan seeking job opportunities and it was he who told me about an opening for a container lorry driver in Kozhikode. And on November 25, 2024, I travelled from Kanhangad to take up the work, while Manikandan arrived from Mangaluru. We both rented a room at a lodge in Nadakkavu. Manikandan had with him a 100g pack of crystal sugar that he had bought from Mangaluru. We had some of the contents at night. The Dansaf squad nabbed us while we were on our way for breakfast the next morning. The team surrounded us and handcuffed us. They took the remaining crystal sugar from Manikandan's pocket and accused us of possessing methamphetamine,' recounted Biju. He said that despite pleading innocence, the officers were adamant. Meanwhile, Manikandan fainted at the spot and was shifted to hospital while Biju was moved to Nadakkavu police station. 'We asked them to carry out a blood test to confirm whether we had used drugs or examine our phones for any sort of communication about drug sales. But the officers ignored us. They could have checked our bank accounts for suspicious transactions. I just had Rs 20 in my account at the time,' said Biju. Later, the duo were sent to Kozhikode district jail. Since they couldn't afford an advocate, the government arranged one. On April 24 this year, lab results confirmed their innocence. 'My family members, relatives, neighbours, and even my 75-year-old mother, who is sick, suspected me. Though my mother is now convinced of my innocence, I'm still regarded a drug addict in my parish and locality. I have not even seen methamphetamine. In the FIR, police added that we had confessed to the crime. We were not given the opportunity to make our case,' said Biju. According to police, there was no delay on their part. 'The holdup at the forensic department's end is normal. Moreover, as the crystal sugar in the packet was in the form of finer granules, it put us off,' an officer said. 'Hundreds of NDPS cases are reported in the district and sometimes officers are unable to confirm the substance. In such cases, we have to wait for forensic test results. We had sent the samples on time,' said Prajeesh N, SHO, Nadakkavu station.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Time of India
Security forces recover arms cache following Ulfa-I commander's arrest
1 2 3 4 Dibrugarh: Security forces recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition from a border area near Namsai along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border on Sunday. The operation was carried out based on information provided by recently arrested United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (Ulfa-I) operational commander Rupam Asom. The joint operation, executed by Assam Police, the 23 Assam Rifles and Military Intelligence (Kolkata), resulted in the seizure of one MQ rifle, three magazines and 120 rounds of ammunition. The weapons cache was concealed by a member of the proscribed militant outfit Ulfa-I. The breakthrough came following the arrest of Rupam, a self-styled brigadier of Ulfa-I, who was apprehended by Tinsukia police on Saturday. Rupam, an operational commander of the banned organisation, was captured from Lekhapani forest in Tinsukia district during a coordinated police operation. "Based on information provided by Rupam, Assam Police, 23 Assam Rifles and Military Intelligence, Kolkata, questioned surrendered Ulfa-I cadre Biju Asom on May 24 and obtained details about the MQ rifle and ammunition," a police official said. Security forces questioned Biju, a surrendered cadre of the militant outfit, who corroborated the information provided by Rupam. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo The information provided by the arrested commander and the surrendered militant ultimately led the security forces to the concealed weapons cache. According to police, Biju previously escaped from Rupam's group in Namsai on March 22, taking the MQ rifle with him. Following his escape, Biju subsequently surrendered before the SP in Sivasagar. Rupam, who was nabbed on Saturday, has been implicated in multiple violent activities, including the 2018 killing of Bhaskar Kalita, the OC of Bordumsa Police Station. His name had appeared in a chargesheet filed by the National Investigation Agency. Tinsukia SP Abhijit Gurav said security forces are conducting extensive combing operations along the Assam-Arunachal border to apprehend other members of Rupam's group. "The operation is still underway, and we are intensifying efforts to capture the other members of his group," the SP added.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Time of India
CB arrests man for murder of dalit girl who went missing 15 yrs ago
Kasaragod: The crime branch on Friday arrested a 52-year-old civil contractor and motivational speaker in connection with the murder of a dalit girl who went missing 15 years ago from Kanhangad. The accused has been identified as Panathur native Biju Paulose. The girl, a student of a teacher's training institute at Kanhangad town, went missing in June, 2010. Though her family registered a complaint with Ambalathara police, there was no progress in the case. In a breakthrough, police recovered a bone fragment and a necklace near Kasaragod beach in Aug, 2011 and police recently confirmed it belonged to the missing girl. Following this, police questioned Biju and he reportedly confessed to killing the girl. The girl from Balamthode in Kasaragod reached Kanhangad for pursuing a teacher training course and stayed in a hostel. The accused, the father of two children, established a relationship with the minor girl and lived with her in a rented house by misrepresenting his marital status. He took the rented house by posing as her brother. There was an argument between them over his marital status and it led to her murder, police said. Biju was booked under sections of rape, kidnapping under IPC and other relevant sections under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Murder charge will be added after getting the DNA test result of the recovered body part, police said.
The Hindu
17-05-2025
- The Hindu
Dalit girl missing case: CB arrests key accused after 15 years
Fifteen years after a 17-year-old Dalit girl went missing from Kanhangad, the Kerala Crime Branch confirmed that it was a case of murder and arrested the main accused, Biju Paulose, 52, a civil contractor and motivational speaker from Panathur. The case saw progress after a bone fragment and a necklace found near the Kasaragod coast in 2010 were recently identified as belonging to the missing girl. During questioning, Biju reportedly confessed to killing the girl. The girl, a native of Balamthode in Kasaragod, had come to Kanhangad to undergo a teacher training course and stayed in a hostel. She was last seen on June 6, 2010. Her father had filed a missing person's complaint on January 19, 2011. According to the Crime Branch (CB), the accused was allegedly in a relationship with the girl and reportedly misrepresented his marital status. The accused reportedly lived with the girl in a rented house at Madiyan, Kanhangad, posing as her brother. According to the CB, an argument over Biju's marital status is believed to have occurred before the alleged murder. The case was reopened after the girl's family moved the High Court in 2021, seeking a thorough investigation. A CB investigation, overseen by P. Prakash, Inspector General of Police, eventually led to Biju's arrest in Wayanad on Friday night (May 16). Biju has been booked on charges of rape and kidnapping under relevant Sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Addressing the media, Mr. Prakash said a murder charge would be added if the DNA test confirmed the identity of the recovered remains. The investigation was led by Mr. P. Prakash, with a team comprising Superintendent of Police Prajeesh Thottathil, DySP Madhusoodhanan Nair, Inspector Sreekumar M., P.M. Libi, Sub-inspectors Raghunath (Trikaripur) and M. Manoj (Nileswararm), Assistant Sub-inspector Rathi (Odayanchal) and cyber and civil police officers.
