Higher police officials are ready, goons will be put behind bars; decision following Kerala Kaumudi report

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state police force, under the leadership of the SPs, has intensified action to arrest the goons who are wreaking terror with their murder cries. DySPs are in charge of preparing the goonda list. The decision was taken in an online meeting chaired by ADGP MR Ajithkumar, who is in charge of law and order. The action was taken following the report published by Kerala Kaumudi about the police force's failure to take action against the goons.

The Goonda list will be updated to include persistent offenders. Not even those who used their political connections to avoid being included on the goonda list would be spared. Those who get out of jail after getting punished in a goonda case and again commit violence will be deported or placed in preventive detention after submitting a report in court.

The high-level police meeting also decided to constantly monitor the gangsters. Range IGs, DIGs and district police chiefs participated in the meeting.

The direction from the top is to suppress hooliganism using the Goonda Act (KAAPA). By imposing KAAPA, the district magistrate can deport the goons from their own district for up to one year. Deported gangsters will be monitored. It will be ensured that the deported goons do not re-enter the district. IGs are also empowered under the KAAPA Act to deport habitual criminals.

A man can be placed in preventive detention by invoking the Goonda Act if he has a case against him in which he is punishable by five years or if he has two cases against him in which he is punishable by one to five years or if he has three cases at the trial stage. The Collector has to submit an application for this after checking the criminal history of seven years.

Goons becoming more powerful
Last week, a gang had wreaked havoc in Karamana in Thiruvananthapuram by killing a young man by hitting him on the head with a stone. The 'Aavesham' model celebration carried out on social media by gangsters to celebrate the release of the murder case accused in Thrissur and the recovery of four guns from the arrested gang leader in North Paravur show how strong goons have become in the state.