Kaapa invoked against accused in spirit smuggling case

Kochi: Ernakulam Rural police invoked the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (Kaapa) against a person accused of smuggling spirit. The Act was invoked against Viju, 52, from Chendamangalam. He has been banned from entering the police station limits for six months.The order was issued by Ernakulam Range DIG Satheesh Bino based on a report by rural district police chief M Hemalatha. There were also cases registered against him at various police station limits, including cannabis trafficking. Kaapa was invoked following his involvement in a spirit case registered by Palakkad Town South police in Dec 2024.Two held for sand smuggling: Police on Tuesday arrested two people for sand smuggling from the Periyar River. Police identified the arrested persons as Rishad, 35, and Riyas Bava, 37, from Aluva Thuruth. They were taken into custody while transporting sand in a vehicle from the riverbank near Thuruth. The sand was being taken towards Kayamkulam, said police. They were apprehended by the rural district anti-narcotics special action force team. The operation was based on a tip-off received by district police chief M Hemalatha.