Police go to invite tribal families for Onam, find they had no food for days

A Festive Invitation Meets Hunger

When Moozhiyar police officers set out for a tribal settlement near the Kochandi check post on Monday, August 24, 2026, their mission was a festive one: to invite residents to the Onam feast at the police station. But what they encountered turned the visit into an act of compassion.

The team, comprising station house officer A.R. Ravindran, sub-inspector Anilkumar, and civil police officers Chinchu Bose and Vineeth, found that four families in the settlement were struggling even to find their next meal. During their interaction, the officers asked the children what they had eaten that morning, only to learn that they had not eaten anything that day and often went without food for days.

Malayala Manorama reported that the families told the officers they had not eaten that morning and frequently went without food for days. The Hindu noted that the children's admission came after direct questioning, and the officers' discovery turned what was meant as a goodwill visit into an urgent relief effort.

Immediate Relief

Moved by the families' plight, the police team returned to the station and, with the help of colleagues, came back with essential provisions: groceries, vegetables, fish, biscuits, and other bakery items for the four families. The supplies brought some cheer to the families, who readily accepted the invitation to the feast.

According to Malayala Manorama, the settlement is home to 17 members across four families, and the food supplies are expected to help them through the days until Onam without going hungry.

Addressing Education Barriers

During further interaction, the children conveyed the difficulty they faced in getting to school. An official told The Hindu that the children said they wanted to attend school but found it difficult because there was no transport facility. The station house officer assured them that arrangements would be made to help them get to school when classes resume after the Onam holidays.

Malayala Manorama also reported that officials assured transport facilities would be arranged for children to get to school when classes resume, though it did not specify that the assurance came from the SHO.

The residents bid farewell to the police team with smiles, promising to join them for the Onam feast at the Moozhiyar police station on Monday.