Kollam: Going by the unabated incidents of crime across Kollam district it seems that outlaws have no fear of the police here. Hired killers, extortionists and other criminals are having a free run as there seems to be little effort from the authorities to bring them before the law. Moreover, the gangs can be very much active as they can easily lure new recruits with money and liquor.
An RTI reply to the police revealed though action had been recommended against 32 persons, sanction was received to proceed against only two criminals. In short, all the other goons are carrying on their illegal activities unchecked.
A young social activist in the city had submitted the RTI application to the city police commissioner six months ago. It sought to know details about the action taken against criminals under KAAPA (Kerala Anti-social Activities Prevention Act).
For instance, a notorious gangster, who was earlier kept in preventive custody by the Eravipuram police station on three occasions, has not been booked under the KAAPA though he was involved in several serious incidents, including three murder attempts, over the last two years. While in detention, he managed to secure bail on the condition that he would not engage in criminal activities. He was involved in crimes like stabbing three persons at the venue of a temple festival, attacking a political worker causing fracture to his hand and assaulting a disabled government official after barging into his house.
Extortion rampant
Cases of extortion too are rife. Several people have been harassed over demands for ‘dada fees’. The extortion-related violence at Ochira just over a year ago is testimony to similar crimes. In that incident a youth was asked to part with Rs 100 while he was in the queue to buy liquor at Alumpeedika, Ochira. Two goons based at Klappana, who were acquainted with the youth, were provoked when he refused. Soon after the youth reached home at Valiyakulangara, the gang attacked him. Three others, including the youth’s brother and a friend who tried to prevent the attack, were also seriously injured. The youth is yet to fully recover from his injuries.
Another similar incident took place at Ochira near the liquor outlet. Two persons in the queue were stabbed by two goons after an altercation that ensued as the customers objected to the goons’ bid to jump the queue. The injured youths were under treatment for a long time, but the attackers are still free.
New recruits
Most criminal gangs recruit teenagers by serving them liquor or drugs. In a recent incident, two elderly people sleeping in front of shops at Ochira town were stabbed by teenagers who were returning from a party thrown by goons.
Gangsters search for new talents in gymnasiums also. Incidentally, the chief accused in the sensational Rajesh murder case ran a gym at Ochira. The radio jockey was eliminated at Kilimanoor by a gang based at Ochira. His killers had arrived in Kerala from abroad, eliminated Rajesh and the main accused left the country the next day itself without any hindrance from law-enforcers. The criminals had conducted a trial run before the crime. Though a thorough police investigation unravelled the mystery, the prime accused is still roaming free abroad where the contract for the well-planned murder was apparently given.
