Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

City police prepare criminals' list

The city police have prepared the list of habitual offenders and are ready to proceed against them, writes G. Anand

In a bid to curb gangland violence, the city police were preparing to proceed against habitual offenders under the proposed Felonious Activities Prevention Act (FAPA).

The State Government is expected to issue the notification relating to FAPA soon, a senior police official in the city said. The law would empower police commissioners and district superintendents of police in the State to initiate action against habitual offenders. It also gives the Commissioner authority to detain history sheeters without trial for a period of up to three months. The police would also be able to ask suspects not to leave or enter a particular area of police jurisdiction for a specified period of time. The provision is expected to help the police in preventing crime and also insulating witnesses from threats and inducements.

The new law would also give the police the right to ask persons accused in criminal cases to give prior information about their movements. The FAPA also had provision to attach the property of absconding persons, including their bank accounts and landed property.

For the past several months, the city police had been collecting information on gangs accused of committing violent crimes. The police have put history sheeters into several categories. An official said the names of at least 20 gang leaders figure in the "very active and violent" category. The city police were also collecting intelligence on gang leaders who "remote control" muscle-for-money operations and persons who seek the services of such elements.

The district had witnessed four gangland murders this year. Several persons were injured, some seriously, in gangland violence. The most recent was the death of Satheesh Kumar near the Food Corporation of India (FCI) godown at Kazhakuttom in the early hours of Thursday.

The youth, suspected to be part of a 20-member hit team organised by a gang leader to avenge the murder of his associate, died when he accidentally triggered a few country bombs he was carrying in a plastic cover. The gang members, who wanted to cover up the incident, left the injured youth near his house at Vellayani. Satheesh was later to taken to the Medical College Hospital by his relatives.

A senior official said the city police would step up its drive against organised gangs thriving on extortion and muscle-for-money operations in the city. The police would not allow criminal elements to take refuge in college campuses and hostels. Recently, the police carried out several checks at the University College hostel at Palayam following information that certain wanted persons were holed up there.

The main accused in the gangland murder of one Thampan near a bar hotel in Sasthamangalam had surrendered before the court recently. The police identified the accused as Vineesh of Althara. He has been taken into custody for questioning.

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