THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Resentment is brewing in the police department over the denial of many requests for preventive detention under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA or Goonda Act) by district collectors, even in tense Kannur. It is learnt that a caution raised by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and additional chief secretary (home) Nalini Netto against the use of Goonda Act against those involved in political cases has sent a wrong message.
In some districts, over the last few months not even a single recommendation of the police for preventive detection has got approval. Among a couple of cases rejected by the Kannur district collector include that of DYFI leader Nandakumar who is an accused in the murder of BJP leader C. K. Ramachandran. Request for preventive detention of one Sunesh of Koothuparamba, involved in many instances of political violence, were also rejected.
“The collectors seem to have wrongly interpreted the chief minister’s message. Those involved in political attacks and murders are even being given relaxation. KAAPA only provides relaxation to those involved in political agitations,” a senior police officer said. Justifying their action, one of the district collectors said requests for preventive detention were being subjected to strict scrutiny as many warrants were scrapped by the advisory board and courts on earlier occasions. Over a dozen recommendations of police for preventive detention in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta districts were rejected over the last two months.
“The collectors are simply returning the application without stating any reason,” said a district police chief. Police sources said in most of the districts, collectors are relatively new to the post and hence they might be exercising more caution. The district collector reportedly rejected about five cases in the state capital, including very genuine cases like that of Suresh of Nemom who was involved in multiple criminal cases.
