KOZHIKODE: Alarmed by the increasing cases of dumping waste in public spots during night hours, police sought the support of citizens to check such anti-social activities through improved night vigil. The night patrol support from the public in Palayam, Kottapparambu and Chalappuram has proved a great help and the police feels that forming more and more night vigil committees across the city would help in eliminating anti-social elements effectively.
The Chalappuram Raksha Samithy, the night patrol team of the Chalappuram Residents' Association, during its night patrol, caught many gangsters red-handed while getting rid of waste. The samiti has so far nabbed more than 50 thieves apart from checking such civic threats. Recently, the patrol team of Chalappuram nabbed a person while trying to drain out a tanker with human waste. Samiti secretary V Sajeev told DC that "such elements execute these filthy deeds at odd hours."
He added, "They charge hefty sums for cleaning the septic tank, saying that they have to travel a lot to unload the waste. But such gangs dump the waste in city suburbs under the cover of night". He also said that in such cases, they always informed the police and ensured their presence before tackling the culprits. Kasaba circle inspector P Pramod told DC that the police was promoting the involvement of the public in night patrolling. "As a trial we are executing it in Palayam and Kottapparamba area. The only thing is they should ensure the presence of police when they take on anti-socials", he said, adding that otherwise it would give a send a wrong message.
