Arikkad Varghese, among others, was allegedly involved in actions against what some perceive as the misuse and exploitation of illiterate Adivasi people in
Wayanad during the 1960s. The Naxalites, according to reports, were linked to the assassination of several landlords, purportedly distributing assets gained from these landlords to the poor. Inspired by the Naxalbari uprising, they instigated the Thalassery-Pulpally riots. Key leaders in these riots were
Kunnikkal Narayanan, who led the assault on the
Thalassery police station, and Varghese, who targeted the
Pulpally wireless station. Following these attacks, Narayanan's group dispersed. Similarly, Varghese's group, identified by locals in Adakkathode, Kannur, was forced to scatter as well. Varghese managed to escape capture and found refuge in Karinkalkuzhi, Kannur. In the 1970s, Varghese and his team persisted in their operations, spreading fear across the Thrissileri-Thirunelli regions of Wayanad through targeted acts of violence and destruction.These actions not only instilled terror among the local population but also brought about significant changes in the socio-political, economic, and agricultural sectors of Kerala, particularly in Wayanad. Subsequently, authorities attempted to quell these activities, and by 1970, the protests reportedly weakened. ==Death==