Kerala - Alappuzha   

Gangland wars rob Alappuzha of peace

ALAPPUZHA: An ongoing gang war and attacks on the public by hired killers, drug dealers and their ilk over the past month has thrown a shadow of fear over the district. The latest incident was the killing of Benny, 35, near Kommadi here on Monday evening.

Benny, wanted by the police in criminal cases, is suspected to have been hacked to death by members of his rival gang, headed by Manoj, another wanted man. Benny allegedly stabbed Manoj in December, and the police see the killing as a retaliatory attack. The police were on Benny’s trail in connection with the case when the incident took place.

The police said an Alappuzha North police team had received a tip-off that Benny was approaching a liquor outlet near Pitchu Iyer Junction. The team was waiting for him near there, but on noticing it, he turned his motorbike and fled. Less than 10 minutes later, he was attacked at Kommadi. The police reached the spot just as the attackers had left. Benny died two hours later at the General Hospital.

Over the past one month, the usually serene tourist town has woken up to at least 15 reports of attacks and counter-attacks, both minor and major, between gangs of hired assailants, called “quotation” gangs. An argument during a temple festival at Punnapra led to an attack of two persons with swords on Thursday, while in Aryad, a person was attacked in his house on Sunday morning by gangs accusing him of tipping them off to the police. An youngster was stabbed by a gang that came on motorbikes in Alappuzha North police station limits on Sunday evening.

A trader, Shaji, and his wife, Ambika, were attacked at their house in Kalavoor, also on Sunday. Mr. Shaji was accused of complaining to the police about anti-social activities in the area. While he sustained minor injuries, Ms. Ambika is in hospital with a fractured arm.

On February 4, Sebastian was injured in a brawl between rival gangs during the Kottamkulangara temple festival. Three policemen, who rushed to the scene, were attacked with swords and knives.

The police have now intensified what they term an “ongoing” drive against anti-social gangs.

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