Political tensions escalated in the State capital on Wednesday following the arrest of BJP councillor R. Sugathan under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA).BJP workers, including councillors of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, took out a protest march to the Vattiyurkavu police station. They accused the police of abusing their authority during the detention.Mr. Sugathan, who represents the Vazhottukonam ward in the City Corporation, was taken into custody during a dramatic late-night police operation on Tuesday. He was shifted to the Thiruvananthapuram Central Prison under preventive detention provisions of the KAAPA Act. The City police have also registered a fresh case against him for allegedly obstructing the police from discharging their duties and attacking the personnel during the arrest operation.According to the police, the situation turned tense when BJP workers gathered outside his house and allegedly attempted to obstruct the arrest. The Station House officer fired a warning shot into the air to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control amid the confrontation.District Police Chief (Thiruvananthapuram City) K. Karthick said preliminary reports indicated that the warning shot was fired by the officer to overcome a volatile situation. A detailed report is awaited, he added.Police officials said the accused has nearly ten criminal cases registered against him and that the preventive detention order was issued after due legal process.However, the BJP councillor told media persons that he was targeted unfairly with excessive force. He claimed that he had developed symptoms of chickenpox and had approached the High Court seeking additional time in proceedings related to his anticipatory bail application.His wife Aswathy also accused police officers of physically assaulting her and frightening their children during the arrest operation. The family has demanded an independent inquiry into the conduct of the police team.Thiruvananthapuram Mayor and BJP leader V.V. Rajesh challenged the police to prove that Mr. Sugathan had been booked under KAAPA. He also questioned whether the mandated procedure had been adhered to in the case.He also accused the Vattiyurkavu SHO of repeatedly targeting BJP workers. The officer, he alleged, has a history of confrontations involving BJP leaders and has been the subject of complaints before senior police officials.Mr. Rajesh also alleged that the police action was politically motivated and was aimed at weakening the BJP-led administration in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.However, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala strongly defended the police operation. He asserted that maintaining law and order and ensuring peaceful living conditions for citizens was the government’s foremost responsibility.The Minister also praised the police officers involved in the arrest operation. “If the police had to fire into the air while arresting a goon, I congratulate those officers. Their duty is to maintain law and order and protect citizens. It is not goons who will decide how society functions,” he said. Published - June 10, 2026 08:41 pm IST