Repeated incidents of sexual offenders targeting random women are being reported in the city, triggering safety concerns. At least five men were arrested from different parts of the city for allegedly molesting women in separate incidents recently.
While two each were nabbed by the Ernakulam North police and the Ernakulam Central police, the fifth person was arrested by the Maradu police.
Muhammed Anshad, 19, of Vaduthala and Muhammed Raziq, 18, of Pulleppady were arrested by the Ernakulam North police for allegedly molesting a young woman on Shenoy Cross Road in Kaloor. Police sources said the duo is suspected to be involved in at least three similar offences. They used to roam around in the city on a motorbike and targeted women in isolated areas.
The police zeroed in on the duo while probing an incident on Thursday (January 15, 2026) evening where they allegedly sexually harassed a woman near a ladies’ hostel in Kaloor. “After a case was registered against them, we came to know that they were involved in similar offences earlier too. However, the survivors in the earlier instances were not willing to file formal complaints due to various reasons,” a police officer said.
In another incident, Jipson Rodriguez of Mulavukad and Yasar Arafath of Nayarambala, both aged 40, were nabbed by the central police for allegedly molesting a woman who was sitting at an eatery on Veekshanam Road along with her husband. The alleged incident took place on Saturday (January 17, 2026).
In both the cases, the police zeroed in on the accused based on CCTV footage.
Earlier in the month, the Maradu police had reportedly arrested a 20-year-old man for allegedly groping a Plus One student on Bank Road, Vyttila, when she was walking back her home along with her grandfather. All the accused have been remanded.
On the safety concerns posed by the repeated incidents, Juvvanapudi Mahesh, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Law and Order (Kochi City), said the police were conducting intense patrol to prevent such offences. “Whenever an incident is reported, arrests are made immediately. We have been constantly monitoring potential offenders. In the recent incidents, there was no pattern as as such,” the officer said.
Published – January 19, 2026 10:47 pm IST
