Cops intensify search for Ayanki

Kochi: History-sheeter Arjun Ayanki’s brother Akhil and two others were arrested by police
on Friday as part of move to capture fugitive Arjun who threw challenges to Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and police officials.
In a Facebook post, Ayanki slighted Chennithala’s recent warning on a crackdown on goons threatening police officers.
Police are hunting for Arjun who is wanted in connection with a case for threatening the Kothamangalam Station House Officer through a Facebook post after being released from jail.
The threat was issued for police arresting Arjun and six others from a resort in connection with some illegal activities in May this year while attending a friend’s wedding. After spending 21 days in judicial custody, Arjun allegedly posted a message on Facebook threatening the officer.
A native of Azhikode in Kannur district, Ayanki first came to public attention in connection with a gold smuggling network operating through Karipur airport.
He had a criminal gang that provided protection to carriers transporting smuggled gold for syndicates operating in north Kerala.
Police said the gang later began abducting gold carriers, assaulting them and snatching the smuggled gold. He came under the surveillance of
Customs in 2021 after an alleged gold-snatching attempt that killed five at Ramanattukara in Kozhikode district during an abduction bid.