Police tighten crackdown on gangsters; funders and supporters to face strict action

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The police have decided to invoke KAAPA against gangsters who terrorise the public with violent crimes and to register non-bailable cases against those who provide them with financial or other support. Individuals and organisations aiding such gangsters will also face action.

People who provide financial support to gangsters will be treated as those who abet their crimes. Those found to have aided or facilitated crimes committed by gangsters could face life imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh. Anyone found harbouring or sheltering them could face imprisonment ranging from three years to life, along with a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh. If it is proved that a person knowingly assisted in a crime, they could face the same punishment as the gangster involved. The measures are part of guidelines issued by ADGP P. Vijayan in connection with Operation Grip, a police crackdown on gangsters.

Under the guidelines, a person can be detained without trial for up to six months under KAAPA if they have one case punishable with up to five years in prison, two cases carrying prison terms of one to five years, or three cases currently under trial. Those who return to criminal activities after being released from jail can be externed from their home districts. Anyone violating the externment order can be arrested without a warrant and may face up to three years in prison.

Police will ensure that those externed do not return to their home areas during the period of the order. Once the externment period ends, they will have to execute a bond promising not to engage in criminal activities. Those who violate the bond can be detained again under the law. DySPs have been given the responsibility of preparing lists of gangsters, while police stations will regularly update their goonda lists.

Around 800 active gangsters

1. Kerala's 20 police districts have an average of around 40 active gangsters each, taking the total to about 800. Some of them face more than 100 criminal cases. Kochi has the highest number, and police plan to take immediate action against these hardened criminals.
2. Police estimate that there are nearly twice as many people who allegedly engage in gangster activities as a profession or manage to avoid cases by using political influence and other means. Police plan to review and update case records and invoke KAAPA against them where applicable.
3. The police's goonda list currently contains around 6,000 names. However, a large majority are no longer active. Their recent activities will be reviewed, and inactive individuals may be removed from the list, though they will remain under police surveillance. The list will be updated regularly.

“Police will dismantle the network that provides support to gangsters. The crackdown is based on intelligence inputs and continuous surveillance. We have already arrested 750 gangsters under Operation Grip."
- P Vijayan
ADGP, Law and Order