THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When the previous government launched ‘Operation Suraksha’ in 2015 to crack down on anti-social elements and goons in the state, people’s hopes soared. The police went on a clampdown spree, arresting hordes of criminals from across the state. However, the vigorous drive fizzled out and fell by the wayside post the announcement of Assembly polls in March 2016.
After the LDF Government assumed power in May, it gave short shrift to ‘Operation Suraksha’, resulting in a spiralling of crimes in the state.
As per the statistics available with the Police Department, 1,90,402 criminals were arrested and slapped with Kerala Anti-social Activities Prevention Act (KAAPA) between February 26, 2015 to May 2016. Since then, however, the drive has been lying in the cold storage.
Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala, the then Home Minister, who was the driving force behind the operation, said he wrote to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday demanding the revival of the project. “When the project was on, the public felt a sense of safety and security. But the startling reality is ever since Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF Government came to power not even a single arrest has been recorded,” Chennithala said. Contradicting the Opposition Leader’s claim, Police Department sources said the crackdown on criminals is still on. Only, it is not enforced under any specific ‘name’.
According to the police, they have arrested over 92,234 criminals since the LDF Government came to power.
State Police Chief Loknath Behera told ‘Express’ the clampdown has been progressing in the state for quite some time now. He said 288 criminals were taken into custody on Monday alone from Ernakulam city, rural and Alappuzha districts. Behera said these arrests indicate the alacrity and proactiveness of the state police in nailing criminals.