On May 21, 2025, the Peoples Anti-War Front organised a peaceful protest rally outside the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Thrissur, raising slogans against war and condemning violence as a crime against humanity. The rally was led by K. Sahadevan and included activists Pramod Puzhangara, Jayaprakash Olari, I. Gopinath, and Suji, among others. Despite the peaceful nature of the gathering, Thrissur police intervened and took 11 activists, including the organisers, into preventive custody.

The incident was widely reported in the national media, sparking public outrage and raising concerns about the infringement on the right to peaceful assembly and free expression.

HRDA is urging the NHRC to take suo moto cognizance of the police action under Section 12(a) of the Protection of Human Rights Amendment Act, 2019. HRDA requests the Commission to initiate an independent inquiry through the NHRC’s investigation wing and to ensure intervention that is impartial and carried out in a timely manner.