KOCHI: An argument on the road, a scuffle at an intersection or an objection to someone’s behaviour can quickly turn ugly in Kochi, leaving residents increasingly wary of how an ordinary difference of opinion might end.
The concern is particularly strong among those working night shifts. Their journey home often takes them through poorly lit stretches, deserted roads and junctions where groups gather late into the night.
“I am worried about commuting through the city after the night shift. If I see a crowd near a tea shop or junction at night, I often avoid that route. Who knows whether they are under the influence of drugs? We have such fears, especially among those working night shifts,” said Keerthana Rajesh, a young IT professional.
“Earlier, I would drive through the city without thinking twice, even late at night. Now, if I see a group arguing on the roadside, I slow down, lock the doors and try to move away. It is the unpredictability that worries people,” said Arjun Menon, another software professional from Kakkanad.
The unease is not confined to youngsters. Senior citizens say aggressive behaviour on city roads has also made them more cautious.
“Recently, on an interior road in Edappally a young biker accidentally hit the side-view mirror of my car. During the exchange that ensued, I asked him to avoid speeding on narrow roads. He turned aggressive and threatened to break my car’s windshield. I decided to avoid a confrontation and drove off. If this is the situation in Kochi, it must change,” said T K Gopalakrishnan, a retired banker.
Recent incidents illustrate what drives such concerns. In June, a man was stabbed to death in Palluruthy following an altercation over a modified motorcycle. Around the same period, two young women were allegedly attacked in Kaloor while returning from work.
Similar apprehensions surfaced in July when a man was arrested for allegedly harassing women near Kaloor Junction and attacking police officers who intervened. In August, a private bus employee allegedly blocked an NRI family’s car near Deshabhimani Junction, threatened the occupants and allegedly assaulted an ASI during police intervention.
A common factor in many of these incidents is how quickly seemingly ordinary confrontations escalated. For residents, that unpredictability — rather than the severity of individual crimes — is becoming a source of anxiety.
Senior police officers, however, said there was no reason for panic and maintained that the law and order situation in Kochi remained under control. They said the shadow police force had been strengthened and surveillance and patrolling stepped up, particularly in vulnerable locations and during night hours.