The unholy alliance between illegal moneylenders and martial art trainers is once again under police scanner with the start of ‘Operation Kuberan.’ It is a State-wide drive against loan sharks and illegal moneylending businesses.
As per information received by the police from a recently booked trainer in the city, a large number of illegal moneylenders enlisted the services of those trained at martial arts centres in the city to threaten the clients and extract money.
The inquiry, now focussed on the team of an established martial arts trainer in the city, had found that some trainees too were forcefully made part of the ‘bullying network.’
Two at largeTwo such trainees, accused of trying to murder of a borrower recently, were at large. The Koyilandy police were investigating the case.
Initially martial art training institutes came under police watch following the murder of a youth named Praburaj. Rivalry between two karate club members had led to the murder.
The police had conducted detailed checks at all institutes after this incident.
The police were aware of the links between illegal moneylenders and Dileep, the recently booked martial arts trainer from West Hill.
The police was refraining from raiding his premises due to the absence of any formal complaint, sources said.
He was booked by the Koyilandy police only after a man, who escaped a bid on his life by Dileep’s gang, filed a complaint.
“Even though the police know of his involvement in illegal moneylending operations, they are not ready to act as he has many policemen as his trainees,” a native of West Hill said.
Police sources said a separate investigation had started into the suspected alliance of karate trainers with loan sharks.
A senior police officer said all recent complaints would be rechecked for any mention of the involvement of martial art trainers in illegal moneylending.
