The bird had spent three days trapped behind the glass frontage of a sealed textile shop in Ulikkal, fluttering in the heat with no way out.
Published Apr 10, 2025 | 7:53 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 10, 2025 | 7:53 PM
The sparrow was gently caught and released.
Synopsis: A sparrow trapped inside a court-sealed textile shop in Ulikkal, Kerala, sparked an extraordinary rescue involving the District Collector, a Sessions Judge, and local residents. Despite legal hurdles surrounding the ongoing property dispute, the shop was unsealed with High Court permission after three days, allowing the bird to be freed.
On Thursday, 10 April, a sealed textile shop in Kerala’s Kannur district became the unlikely stage for a rescue mission that drew in the District Collector, a Sessions Judge and an entire neighbourhood – all moved by the trapped cries of a house sparrow.
The bird had spent three days trapped behind the glass frontage of a sealed textile shop in Ulikkal, fluttering in the heat with no way out.
The shop, locked for over six months due to a property dispute, had become an unexpected cage after the sparrow flew in through a narrow pipe hole and was unable to find its way out.
Its faint chirps and the sound of wings against glass caught the attention of locals – autorickshaw drivers, shopkeepers and passers-by.
Though unable to open the premises, they fed it rice grains and drops of water through the same pipe hole.
Rescue efforts, however, were blocked by legal constraints. The textile shop – YOX – was at the centre of a court-ordered closure amid a dispute between two traders, Muneer and Firoz. “It is illegal to open a shop sealed by the court,” local authorities said.
Despite this, residents continued to press for action.
“We alerted the local authorities, but they could not open the building due to legal complexities. So we informed the District Collector,” Advocate Chandran, a local resident, told South First.
The story soon spread through social media and local news outlets, eventually reaching District Collector Arun K Vijayan. He directed officials to explore solutions within the legal framework.
Principal District and Sessions Judge KT Nisar Ahammed then became involved. He sought advice from the Kerala High Court and decided to intervene personally.
On Thursday, 10 April morning, Judge Ahammed arrived at the site in Ulikkal, accompanied by officials. At around 10.30 am, with High Court permission, the locks were removed and the glass door unsealed.
Officials opening the shutters of the shop
The sparrow was gently caught and released. It flew to a nearby tree, pausing briefly before flying off.
“This might seem like a small thing, but it means a lot,” Judge Ahammed told reporters. “Laws are made to protect life, not confine it. Whether human or animal, every life matters.”
The incident served as a reminder of how empathy can rise above bureaucracy. Ulikkal panchayat ward member Aysha Ibrahim said: “We were all worried. To see it finally fly away – it was such a moment of joy.”
The incident is reminiscent of the rescue of a cat stranded on a Kochi Metro pillar near Welcare Hospital in January 2020.
Fire and Rescue personnel used a crane to reach the animal, while Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) remained on standby to halt services and cut power if required.
The rescue was successful and did not disrupt operations. The cat was taken to a veterinary clinic and later handed over to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
It was later christened “Metro Mickey”.
But not all animal rescue attempts end happily.
On Tuesday, 8 April, 44-year-old Sijo Timothy died after being struck by a lorry while trying to rescue a kitten in Thrissur, near the Mannuthy–Kalathode junction.
A viral video shows a cat trying to reach its kitten across heavy traffic when Timothy stopped his bike to help.
Timothy appears to run towards the kitten in the middle of the road when he is hit by a lorry, throwing him into the path of a car coming from the other side.
(Edited by Dese Gowda with inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman)
