The 2023 Navakerala Yatra remains one of the most controversial episodes in Kerala’s recent political history, largely due to the brutal assault on Congress workers by CPM activists. Then opposition leader VD Satheesan had vowed not to forget the incident, and true to his word, on his very first day as Chief Minister, he announced a special investigation team to reexamine the case.

The SIT is headed by Alappuzha Crime Branch SP AP Shoukathali, an officer with a formidable reputation. Shoukathali is a recipient of the Union Home Ministry’s award for investigative excellence and was part of the team that investigated the TP Chandrasekharan murder case. He personally arrested CPM Kozhikode district secretary P Mohanan, identified as the mastermind behind the TPK murder, in a dramatic roadside operation.

Shoukathali’s career includes cracking the Kodi Suni criminal network and arresting numerous high-profile criminals. He served with the National Investigation Agency from 2014, handling the TP Chandrasekharan case, the Kanakamala case, multiple terrorism cases in Tamil Nadu, and even collaborating with French agencies on the Paris terror attacks investigation. He is recognized as a counter-terrorism operations specialist within the NIA.

In the 2020 gold smuggling case, Shoukathali took charge and arrested main accused Swapna Suresh and Sandeep within 24 hours. His track record of taking on powerful CPM leaders and organized crime figures has made him a target of criticism from the ruling party.

The case dates back to December 15, 2023, when Youth Congress workers led by Alappuzha MLA AD Thomas and state secretary Ajay Juvar Kuriyakos protested the Navakerala Yatra bus passing through Alappuzha. Then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s gunmen, including Anil Kumar and security officer S Sandeep, brutally assaulted the workers in full public view. Despite video evidence going viral across Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan claimed the incident had not come to his notice.

The case was registered only after court intervention but made little progress under the previous government. Now, with VD Satheesan at the helm, the SIT has been instructed to submit its report within 15 days. A DYSP and four other officers have been included in the investigation team.

The appointment of AP Shoukathali — an officer who has consistently brought CPM leaders and criminals to justice — sends a clear signal that the new government intends to follow the rule of law rather than engage in political vendetta. For the Youth Congress workers and the public who witnessed the violence through video footage, this renewed investigation offers hope that justice will finally be served.