THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Intelligence chief DGP Mohammed Yasin has pointed out that 70 percent of police arrests in the state were illegal, without following formalities. In a directive to all district police chiefs, he said the practice of suo-motto registration of drink-driving, which accounts for 95 percent of the cases registered in the state, should be reduced as it was causing a wrong impression about the state.
“Though there was provision for the police to dispose of drunken driving cases by collecting fine if the offender admits the offence, police are registering suo-motto cases. The increased number of cases was causing misleading media reports on law and order situation in the state, and thereby the people are losing faith in the government," Mr Yasin said.
According to him, 70 percent of arrests in the state pertained to drunken driving, and the arrests are made without following norms. Hence those are illegal. He also pointed out that the increasing number of cases was causing a burden to the police and affecting the probe into other serious offences. The majority of the drunken driving cases are based on results of alcometres. But a majority of them are rejected by the court.
