The Hindu : Kerala News : Fundamentalism a major threat: Tharakan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 31, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Fundamentalism a major threat: Tharakan

By Our Staff Reporter

P.K. Hormese Tharakan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JAN. 30. Religious fundamentalism is emerging as a major threat in Kerala and strong measures are needed to tackle it, the outgoing Director-General of Police, P.K. Hormese Tharakan, said here today.

Addressing presspersons before leaving for New Delhi to take over as chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), he said investigations into the hawala racket had not revealed terrorist links.

"Though terrorism has not been a problem in Kerala so far, religious fundamentalism is emerging as a major threat," Mr. Tharakan said.

He said it was up to special agencies under the Central Government to crack down on economic offences such as the hawala racket.

`Check corruption'

Admitting that corruption was a serious problem at various levels in the Police Hepartment, Mr. Tharakan said close monitoring of erring officials had helped check the menace. He underlined the need for stern action to control corruption.

Mr. Tharakan said investigations into crimes were being hampered by deployment of police officials to tackle law and order situations such as violent agitations on the streets. He identified weak documentation of crime records as a major problem area. Another factor affecting crime investigation was human rights issues, he said, adding that the police department recognised the need to maintain human rights while carrying out investigations.

Mr. Tharakan said there had been no interference from the Oommen Chandy Government in the functioning of the Police Department. Expressing satisfaction with the progress of the modernisation drive taken up in the police force, he said the training and computer sections had been strengthened.

Sports hostel

Earlier, in his last official function as DGP, Mr. Tharakan inaugurated a police sports hostel at the Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium. Addressing a gathering of senior police officials on the occasion, he announced that the department would take up a district-level health survey for police officials.

This will be followed up with counselling and treatment for various physical and psychological ailments and disorders, he said.

Mr.Tharakan said the renovation of the stadium would be taken up as a priority project. He added that the public would have access to the facilities in the proposed sports complex at the stadium.

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