Kochi: As many as 795 people were caught for drunken driving in an overnight combing drive held in five districts falling under the Kochi range as part of ‘Operation Monsoon’. The drive, held in Kochi City, Ernakulam Rural, Alapuzha, Kottayam and Idukki police districts under the directive of P. Vijayan, Inspector General of Police, started at 5 pm on Saturday and continued till Sunday morning. “Cases have been registered against them and action including recommendation for cancellation of their licenses taken,” a statement said.
While 40 people were held for possession of banned narcotic substances, as many as 610 cases were registered for rash and negligent driving and causing nuisance to public in an inebriated condition. Similarly, 175 cases were registered against 208 persons for drinking in public and 5105 persons were booked for various offences relating to the motor vehicles Act. Thirty two persons wanted in various criminal cases were arrested while 368 people against whom warrants were pending were also held.
The various police teams conducted inspection at 188 places where weapons and explosives were earlier used to be sold or rented. Also the police checked 581 lodges to check whether any anti-social activities were being done. A total of 703 persons listed as part of ‘Operation Goonda’ and 85 others suspected to have links with religious fundamentalists were also subjected to examination.
