Activists from the Sarovaram Environment Protection Committee protested at Kottooli wetlands on December 18. They demand immediate removal of about 46 loads of soil dumped by police during the Vijil murder case investigation. The soil was deposited on August 29 as part of evidence collection. V. Vijil disappeared in 2019, and the police recently reopened the case after suspecting he died of a drug overdose and was buried in the wetlands near Sarovaram Biopark. The Kottooli wetlands spread across Vengeri, Kottooli, and Chevayur villages in Kozhikode city. It is a vital urban biodiversity hotspot protected by the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017. The State Wetland Authority Kerala has directed local authorities to enforce these rules strictly since October 2025. The wetlands are also under consideration for Ramsar site status. K. Ajaylal, president of the Sarovaram Committee, criticized illegal constructions near the wetlands and praised their group for stopping attempts to protect wrongdoers. The Kerala High Court recently warned that delays in protecting the wetlands could cause permanent damage and scheduled a follow-up hearing in January. The police had promised to remove the soil after evidence collection, but no action has been taken yet. Committee members claim the soil-dumped area is now a parking spot for school buses, worsening the damage. Mr. Ajaylal said protests will intensify if authorities do not act quickly to remove the soil and prevent further harm.