Kerala - Alappuzha

Series of attacks on police personnel

ALAPPUZHA: It is tough times for police personnel at the district headquarters here.

The law and order situation over the past few months has been such that police personnel themselves have been at the receiving end of attacks by persons engaged in anti-social activities and those enjoying political patronage.

The latest in a series of attacks on police personnel was when Krishnakumar, a constable at the Alappuzha South police station, was assaulted late in the night while returning home after duty earlier this week. The attack assumed significance because most of the accused in the case were part of the local drug mafia.

The police managed to nab two of the accused, but they were let off on bail as they were juveniles.

Though the police claim that Mr. Krishnakumar, who suffered grievous injuries on his head and hands after being attacked with swords, was targeted when he questioned the youngsters who were found moving around in suspicious circumstances, there are other stories making the rounds.

One is that the drug mafia had attacked him, as he had passed on information on their activities to his senior officers. Senior police officials, however, deny this.

Earlier this month, Nedumudi sub-inspector Sibichen Joseph, constable Suresh Krishna and Alappuzha North police station head constable Narayanan sustained injuries when All India Youth Front (AIYF) activists attacked them with stones and flag staffs during an AIYF march.

All the accused are on bail now.

On October 20, Martin, a constable attached to the Palluruthy station in Kochi and a resident of Mangalam ward, suffered injuries when a group of anti-social elements barged into his house and assaulted him. The reason: Martin had tipped off the local police on illegal liquor sales in the neighbourhood. Nearly two months after the incident, the police finally managed to nab one of the accused.

Incidents of political activists manhandling a police personnel on duty in the centre of the town and a traffic constable being slapped in public too are among other recent attacks on the khaki-clad keepers of law.

Interestingly, even as the drug mafia here, which operates under the cover of darkness near the incomplete Alappuzha Bypass, is emerging stronger and incidents of noted history-sheeters harassing schoolgirls and women are on the rise, there has been no noticeable crackdown or even orders for any such drive against the anti-social elements.

To make matters worse, thieves sneaked into the office of the Superintendent of Police on Saturday and made away with a computer system.

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