ED raid ambush: No prior intimation given to state Police, says Home Minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala strongly condemned the recent attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials, terming it a "premeditated and deliberate" act orchestrated by the CPI(M).

Addressing the media, the Home Minister categorically denied any lapses on the part of the state police, clarifying that neither the police force nor the Home Department had been given prior intimation regarding the ED raids.

"The police intervened in a timely manner despite having no advance notice of the operation," Chennithala stated. "Had the department been briefed beforehand, adequate security measures could have been deployed to prevent the incident entirely. Nevertheless, the law will take its course, and no one—regardless of their stature—will be permitted to take the law into their own hands."

Linking the violence to broader political unrest, the Home Minister noted that the capital has witnessed sporadic clashes over the past two days in connection with University Union elections. He sharply criticised the perpetrators, pointing out that those responsible for the violence belong to the party that governed the state for the last decade. He issued a stern warning against attempts to incite riots in Kerala, promising a heavy-handed response from law enforcement.

The police have arrested seven individuals so far, including a prominent office-bearer of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), while investigators have successfully identified 12 additional suspects involved in the ambush. A manhunt is currently underway to apprehend the remaining suspects. At least one ED official sustained injuries during the targeted assault, which took place as the central agency's team was departing after a gruelling, hours-long raid. In light of the escalating tension, the Kerala Governor has taken note of the security breach and officially sought a detailed report on the incident from the Director General of Police (DGP).