Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram   

Traders fall prey to extortionists

The recent instances of attack on traders by extortionists underline the need for a new law on the lines of the Goonda Act, as in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, to take on hardened criminals, writes G. Anand.

The attack on traders at Thaliyil near Karamana in the Fort police station limits on Wednesday has prompted the city police to take a hard look at criminal gangs thriving on extortion rackets.

At around 4 p.m. on Wednesday, an eight-member armed gang went on the rampage at Thaliyil attacking local traders who had reportedly resisted several extortion bids by the local criminal fraternity. The miscreants attacked a small hotel at the junction, injuring two persons, including the proprietor. They caused damage to the building.

Police said the gang members were in an inebriated condition and they damaged a provision store, pan-shop and video cassette lending library after intimidating the owners. Members of the local community, including traders, staged a dharna on the Karamana-Thaliyil road in protest against the incident. An office-bearer of the Kerala Vyapara Vyvasaya Samithi (Kaladi unit) said the youth responsible for the attack were running an extortion racket in the area for the past several months.

When contacted, the Fort police said that the gang behind the attack had been identified and intense efforts were on to book them. Some of the members of the gang have a criminal background, while others are new entrants.

An official said that city-based gangs specialising in extortion rarely target legitimate business. "Such groups usually prey on drug-peddlers, spirit retailers, money-lenders and sex workers. We do not have the kind of extortion rackets seen in metros such as Mumbai where even legitimate and high profile businessmen are victimised'', he says.

Police say there have been several instances where rich urban youth, who have used the services of criminal gangs, have ended up as victims of extortion. An official says the arrest of the Mahesh Karna-Malayan Dileep gang in December last put an end to an extortion racket in the Sreekariyam, Ulloor and Medical College areas. Similarly, the arrest of a Barton Hill colony-based ring leader last year is being described as a police success. Police say that a new law on the lines of the Goonda Act as in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh will add more teeth to the drive against hardened criminals and habitual offenders.

At present, the city police crime squads are actively keeping a tab on criminal elements. Security proceedings are initiated against habitual offenders under Sections 107 and 110 of the CrPC. The offender will have to execute a bond in the presence of the Revenue Divisional Officer, the violation of which could result in arrest without bail and attachment of the offender's private property.

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