Kozhichena

Kozhichena is a village in Klari Perumanna grama panchayath of Malappuram district in Kerala. It is a small hillock which is five kilometers away from Kottakkal town. Kozhichena is divided into Kozhichena and Thazhe Kozhichena. National Highway 66 which connects Mumbai and Kanyakumari passes through Kozhichena town and Tirur-Perumanna-Kozhichena road intersect with NH 66 at Thazhe Kozhichena town.

Rapid Response and Rescue Force (RRRF) of Malabar Special Police (MSP) is situated in Kozhichena on NH 66. MSP Camp which was established soon after Malabar Rebellion in 1921 to curb further riots and for immediate response against atrocities. Malabar Rebellion in 1921 outbroke from Tirurangadi, thus spread throughout the Malabar region especially Eranad and Valluvanadu talks,which is seven kilometers away from Kozhichena. It is a major police training centre in Kerala.

Kozhichena town has undergone massive changes during NH 66 expansion and  many shops and buildings were relocated. An overpass was built on NH 66 to connect both sides of road. Tirur road which originates from here accommodate many shops and supermarkets to cater needs of people.

Kozhichena has witnessed one of largest bus accidents in the history of Kerala on 11 March, 2001. The accident took place on NH 66, between Kozhichena and Pookkipparambu, is commonly called “Pookkipparambu bus accident”. The bus named “pranavam” was traveling from Guruvayoor to Thalassery and hit with a car and overturned. Kozhichena – Pookkipparambu sloping road accelerated severity of the disaster. Two passengers out of 44 who deceased, yet have not been identified. Massive fire which rose upto 80 feet high and took half an hour to extinguish the fire with support of locals and personnels from Malabar Special Police Klari. Pookkipparambu bus accident  was an eye opener for the Government and  several safety features were introduced after the accident including introduction of emergency exit door. In the accident, due to the impact, two doors were jammed when the bus overturned and passengers were stuck inside the bus, as emergency exit was not there on the opposite side of doors.

Kozhichena is a muslim majority village and there is a minority Hindu population who co-exists in harmony. Indian Union Muslim League is the leading political party of Kozhichena and Klari Perumanna grama panchayath. CPI(M) has a small presence here.