As public fear getting out of houses due to goondas, Kerala police turn blind eye to transgressions

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The police have downplayed the frequent goonda attacks, a challenge to the peaceful life of the common man, as an isolated incident. The latest incident was the attack on a father and daughter who were traveling in a car in Thiruvananthapuram's Pothencode last night.

Statistics show that the reason why people can't step out of their houses with family is due to criminal negligence on the part of the police and district collectors. According to the latest figures from the State Intelligence Service, there are 4,500 criminals in the state, of which 1,300 are active. Not only are they involved in robbery and murder, but they are also regulars in a variety of cases, including quotation, land grabbing and drug trafficking.

Though the top brass of the police know that the main activities of the goons are concentrated in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Palakkad districts, they turn a blind eye due to their political affiliation.

Collectors without ordering preventive detention

The list of 145 people to be detained under the Goonda Act has been handed over to the collectors by the district police chiefs till November 30 this year. Of these, only 39 were ordered to be detained. The rest are roaming around as they wish. A list of 150 people to be jailed was compiled, but no action was taken against 51.

Under the KAAPA Act, IGs have the power to deport regular criminals for six months to a year. As of November this year, the SPs had given the names of 201 goons, but action was taken against only 117 of them. It is the high level of pressure that is holding back collectors and IGs.

Goons in the intelligence report

Thiruvananthapuram: 250
Kollam: 50
Alappuzha: 300
Ernakulam: 130
Kottayam: 45
Palakkad: 100
Kasaragod: 60