The city police will strengthen identity verification system for migrant workers in view of the increasing incidents of crimes involving them, A.V. George, the new Commissioner of Police, Kozhikode city, has said.
Interacting with mediapersons at the press club here on Friday, he said the police stations here were maintaining a database that included photographs and finger prints of migrant workers.
Details of workersUsually contractors and agents provided the required details of the migrant labourers at the police stations.
The city was now witnessing an influx of job seekers especially from West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, and Assam while, previously, migrant workers were more from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, Mr. George said.
Some of the migrant workers were found to be involved in criminal activities. Three construction workers hailing from West Bengal were arrested on Thursday on the charge of killing a hotel employee near medical college here.
Mr. George said though the police had made a database of migrant workers some years ago, there were many who were still not documented. Most of the migrant labourers were employed in construction activities, as contract labour and as domestic helps.
Their identification process would be strengthened in the coming months, he said.
The new Commissioner succeeded G. Sparjankumar who has now been appointed Superintendent of Police, Special Branch-Crime Investigation Department. Mr. George brings with him a wealth of experience in different posts in the sections of law and order, crime detection, and intelligence gathering.
Earlier, Mr. George had served as the Town Sub Inspector and Assistant Commissioner of Police in the city, and as Deputy Superintendent of Police, Vadakara. He was also SP, Special Branch Kochi; SP, Crime Branch- Crime Investigation Department; SP, Wayanad district; Commandant, State Armed Police; and Commandant, Police Academy.
Replying to queries, he said the activities of shadow police, a specially constituted wing to gather intelligence inputs and prevent crime, would be also enhanced.
Criminal gangs operating in the guise of martial training groups in the city and the suburbs would be cracked down.
A meeting of parents and teachers of schools would be called to curtail substance abuse at schools and colleges. The police would seek the assistance of voluntary agencies to check the drug mafia operating in educational institutions, Mr. George said.
Traffic snarlsThe Commissioner also said priority would be given to solve traffic snarls in the city. Action would be taken against private bus operators refusing to take in school children and cleaners harassing them.
The use of loud speakers would be disallowed after 10 p.m. Complaints against patrolling teams chasing two-wheeler riders violating the helmet rule would be looked into. Such practices would not be allowed in future, he said.
