In a significant crackdown on election-related misconduct, the Kadavanthra police in Kochi arrested four individuals on Thursday for allegedly tampering with campaign materials set up for the ongoing local body polls. The accused are charged with removing posters and flex boards of one candidate and illegally replacing them with those of a rival.
Election Poster Vandalism Case Details
The police action followed a formal complaint lodged by P D Martin, the Congress candidate from the Girinagar division in the Kochi corporation. Martin alleged that supporters of former UDF councillor Malini Kurup, who is now contesting as an independent candidate, systematically removed his campaign posters and pasted her promotional materials in their place.
The individuals taken into custody have been identified as Antony George and Benoy P Benjamin, both residents of Kadavanthra, along with Christopher C R and Iype Joseph from Elamkulam. In a related development, the Ernakulam South police registered a separate case based on another complaint filed by candidate Martin on Wednesday, intensifying the legal scrutiny of the incident.
Separate Job Fraud Arrest in Edappally
In an unrelated case, the Elamakkara police apprehended a 55-year-old man on Thursday for allegedly swindling money from two people by falsely promising them employment overseas. The accused, Nizamudheen Abdul Latheef of Thrikodithanam in Kottayam, reportedly operated a consultancy near Changampuzha Park in Edappally.
Police investigations revealed that Latheef collected a total of Rs 3.25 lakh from his victims. In the first instance, a 31-year-old man was promised a warehouse job in Austria and was defrauded of Rs 2.25 lakh between June 2023 and September 2025. The second victim, a 44-year-old man, was cheated of Rs 1 lakh after being assured a job in the United Kingdom.
Stalking Incident Leads to Arrest in Kollam
Meanwhile, in Kollam district, a 24-year-old man was arrested on Thursday for allegedly stalking and harassing a woman. The accused, Anandhu Prasad from Sooranad, was booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and remanded to judicial custody.
According to the police, Prasad and the complainant had recently ended their relationship. Unable to accept the break-up, Prasad allegedly began following her repeatedly to her workplace. The situation escalated when he allegedly assaulted her near her hostel, prompting her to file an official complaint. Although he was initially taken into custody and released with a warning, he reportedly followed her to her workplace again on Wednesday, leading to his subsequent arrest.
These three separate cases highlight active police vigilance across different law and order issues in the region, from electoral integrity and financial fraud to personal safety and harassment.
