The Hindu : Goondas switch to new tactics

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 16, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Goondas switch to new tactics

G. Anand

Thiruvananthapuram Feb. 15. The goonda gangs in the city and suburbs are resorting to a new set of tactics for settling scores with each other and carrying out contract hits.

Police say that inflicting injuries that are highly visible but not of a grave nature is part of the new and well-thought-out approach chosen by criminal gangs.

During 1997-2001, the city had seen several gangster killings including those of Gundukadu Shaji, Vayaran Selvan, Parunthu Nazeer, Pallan Gopi, Kunnukuzhy Franchi, LTTE Kabir and Vettukadu Johnny, among others.

However, in the past two years gangland murders are reported rarely in the city. This does not necessarily mean that there has been a let-up in gang conflicts, but only that the gangs have changed tactics, say officials.

``A serious crime such as murder or attempted murder is sure to elicit a tough response from the police. Not willing to risk a crackdown that would upset their operations, the gangsters just lop off the fingers or dismember the palms of their victims to settle scores,'' an official says.

The victim is maimed or disabled, often for a long period of time or sometimes even for life. In one telling instance early last year, a mechanic running a two-wheeler workshop at Bakery Junction was attacked by a gang which lopped off his fingers. The victim was thus deprived of his means of livelihood and ended up in penury.

The police say hired goondas charge different rates for inflicting injuries of varying degrees of seriousness, such as cutting off the fingers, severing an arm or throwing acid. Among the common injuries reported to the police are hard-to-heal knife wounds inflicted on the posterior.

Even if the police register a case of attempted murder, gangsters know very well that the charge would not stick because the injury inflicted on the victim is not life-threatening. The police response to a case of causing grievous hurt would always be milder compared to that of murder or attempted murder.

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