The police have decided to intensify their ongoing drive, Operation Suraksha, aimed at tackling mafia groups and hired gangs operating in north Kerala.
The decision is taken following intelligence reports that several criminal gangs have infiltrated into Kannur and Kozhikode districts. The Home Department launched the aggressive law enforcement operation on February 24, 2014 following allegations of soft pedalling in the probe into the murder of a security guard, Chandrabose, in Thrissur.
As many as 17,353 persons have been booked in the five police districts (Kozhikode city, Kozhikode rural, Kannur, Wayanad, and Kasaragod) in the Kannur range till June 15, 2015. The majority of those arrested — 15,817 — had pending non-bailable warrants against them.
Of the others, 885 had cases involving Abkari Act, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, counterfeit currency, and sand mining, and 320 were hired g. District-wise, Kannur tops the chart with 7,404 arrests, followed by Kasaragod, 3,691, and Kozhikode rural, 2,576.
Prior to polls
Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Kannur Range, Dinendra Kashyap, told The Hindu on Tuesday that the operation would be stepped up in the coming days considering the three-tier local body elections in September-October in the State.
“In any case, the Election Commission will want the police to become proactive before the polls. So this advance drive will be useful,” he said.
A daily monitoring is being done as per the instructions of the State Police Chief T.P. Senkumar and the Additional Director General of Police (North Zone) N. Shankar Reddy.
“District Police Chiefs have been asked to report on the activities. Many have formed their own special squads to strengthen the drive,” Mr. Kashyap added.
KAAPA
The police have also been stringent in executing detention orders under the Kerala Antisocial Activities Prevention Act (KAAPA ) to deal with notorious gangsters in Malabar.
This apart, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities (COFEPOSA) Act have also been effectively implemented in the northern districts.
Mr. Kashyap said that action had also been taken against anti-social elements and measures initiated under the KAAPA to get detention orders from the District Collectors.
At least 20 cases were pending before the District Magistrates. Similarly raids had been carried out against illicit transport and use of explosives, the DIG said.
