Nilambur police have registered an FIR in the tragic electrocution death of a schoolboy who came in contact with a live wire connected to a wild boar trap. According to the FIR, the student died after accidentally touching a low-hanging electric wire. A case has been registered under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

The deceased, Ananthu (15), a Class 10 student, was electrocuted after he came in contact with a high-voltage wire illegally connected for fencing on private land. The complaint was filed by Suresh, a relative who also suffered an electric shock while trying to rescue the boy. The incident occurred while the students were on their way to fish after a football game. Two other students, Shanu and Yadu, were injured. Initial police investigation confirmed that the fencing was illegally electrified. 

Minister Saseendran alleges ‘election-time conspiracy’

Kerala Forest Minister A K Saseendran called the incident “deeply tragic and painful”, but questioned the timing and political response. “Even before locals in the area became aware, a protest had already erupted in Malappuram. One cannot help but suspect a political conspiracy at play,” he alleged. The Minister pointed out that there was no such fencing in the area in the morning, but it had appeared by evening—raising questions about who set it up and why.

“There seems to be a deliberate attempt to use this tragedy as a political opportunity in the Nilambur bypoll. Who benefits from such an incident in the middle of an election?” he asked. Accusing the Opposition of manufacturing outrage to gain traction in a lacklustre campaign, he added, “It would not be irrational to think someone planned to exploit the emotions of poor farmers to turn public sentiment against the government.”

Saseendran also refuted allegations against the Forest Department. “We never set up electric fences using live wires, nor does the KSEB permit such action,” he clarified, adding that two individuals had been taken into custody and were being questioned. “The Opposition’s attempt to pin this on the Forest Department must be re-examined. Let this be a lesson against such blame games,” the Minister said.

Meanwhile, Nilambur UDF candidate Aryadan Shoukath launched a scathing attack, terming the death a “government-sponsored killing”. He accused the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) of tacit approval in such incidents and warned of mass protests if strict action was not taken.

Shoukath claimed that the electric fencing was directly connected to the KSEB power line. “KSEB cannot escape responsibility—its silence is tantamount to complicity,” he said. UDF workers, including Congress and Indian Union Muslim League activists, staged a road blockade in protest. The agitation led to a traffic jam, and the vehicle of senior CPM leader A Vijayaraghavan was stopped by protesters.

Only a limited police presence was initially reported at the protest site, but reinforcements arrived later. Protesters surrounded police vehicles, foiling attempts to remove them. A UDF worker collapsed during the demonstration and was taken to hospital. UDF leaders are now planning a series of intensified protests against the government over the incident.