Monday, Jun 20, 2005
Monday, Jun 20, 2005 |
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Kochi
John L. Paul
KOCHI: Goondas may be having a free reign in Ernakulam district, with gang fights even leading to murders. But the police say the public are reluctant to part with information regarding criminals and elements evoking suspicion. People expect us to do everything from gathering information about criminals to arresting them and ensuring their conviction. But we cannot function without cooperation from the public, says a police officer in the city. Gang rivalries leading to murders were reported in Kalamassery on Thursday and in Munambam a month ago; ripper-style attacks in Paravoor and surrounding areas are another cause for concern; crimes such as extortion and theft have increased considerably; but the public are not coming out against anti-social elements, unless on being at the receiving end. Some say that it is out of fear of being identified that they do not act, but there is the crime-stopper facility to pass on information to the police by remaining anonymous.
Dial 1090
"The police force has its limitations. If the public immediately tip off the police about movement of criminals and suspicious elements, we can act based on that information. With more vehicles added to our fleet, the police can reach the spot fast," says City Police Commissioner Dinendra Kashyap. "Using facilities such as the crime-stopper call (dial 1090), which is toll-free, or tipping off the police control room (100), the public can pass on any information to the police. The sad reality is that these facilities are seldom used." Rural Superintendent of Police M. Wahab echoed a similar view. On seeing or receiving information on crime, people can either call up the control room or alert senior officers on their mobile phones. (Mr. Wahab's number is 94471 15607.) Even if people lose faith in the police, there is no other agency that they can approach. The police are confident of arresting those behind the ripper-style and goonda attacks, he says. Police-public cooperation is all the more needed in a city such as Kochi that has a huge floating population. "Specific information helps the flying-squad police and the local police in tracking down offenders. Using facilities such as 1090, people can pass on information without identifying themselves and they can even follow it up by remaining anonymous," says Palarivattom Sub-inspector M.M. Jose. The police have compiled a list of 250 goondas and gangs operating in and around the city. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime Detachment) S. Surendran, who heads the special squad constituted to track goondas, says these anti-social elements were now well under control. "Apart from keeping them under surveillance, we ask them to report frequently at our office. We also managed to catch 18 of the 50 criminals who were active, but absconding. A few extortion rackets operating near markets in the city have been busted," he says.
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