The police arrested three men in connection with a chain of incidents which culminated in a mass attack on Kottakkal police station around Monday midnight.

A case has been charged against eight people for attacking the station. Latheef Chekidapuram, 31, Abdul Wahid Kanhiraparambil, 24, and Mujeeb Rahman Kattumadathil, 43, were arrested by the police for preventing their job and attempting to forcibly release an accused. The stand-off between the police and a gang of local people at Maravattom near Kadambuzha began on Monday evening in the wake of a complaint of immoral trafficking against two families living in a quarters at Maravattom.

The police team which examined the quarters found nothing illegal there, but was prevented by a gang led by Mr. Latheef. P.S. Manjith Lal, Sub Inspector, who took charge on August 1, said that the violent gang detained them for about half-an-hour and caused tension at Maravattom.

Many of the men who turned against the police were allegedly drunk.

The police arrested Mr. Latheef for preventing and threatening them, and took him for medical examination to Almas Hospital, Kottakkal. A few men tried to forcibly release Mr. Latheef from the police custody at the hospital. Mr. Wahid and Mr. Mujeeb were later arrested in connection with that. A large gang gathered at the police station around midnight and hurled stones at the station. Mr. Lal said that four window panes were broken in the stone-throwing.

The police resorted to a lathicharge to disperse the mob. A case was registered against eight people for attack on the station. The police said a search was on for them.