Rural SP holds meeting with residents in Perumbavoor, warns against vigilantism

Kochi: Amid a rise in drug-related issues that have sparked tensions between residents and migrant labourers in Perumbavoor, district police chief (Ernakulam rural) held a meeting with elected representatives from the area and residents on Friday to prevent further escalation. The police chief assured action against offenders involved in the drug trade and other illegal activities, while issuing a strict warning against vigilante activities by residents.Addressing the gathering, Ernakulam rural SP S Sudarshan said that residents should not take the law into their own hands. "There are over one lakh migrant workers staying here with particularly high concentrations in certain areas. What I understand from the discussion is that people complain that there are various issues in such locations. A decision to form a joint committee involving residents, police and excise, led by police, to address the issue would be taken soon," he said. He added that, even if it was with good intention, people forming committees of their own to act against issues could not be tolerated. "This is often leads to attacks or illegal activities and that should not happen. No one has the right to take the law into their hands," Sudarshan said. The meeting was held in the backdrop of incidents that happened in Kandanthara, a region densely populated by migrants, called Bhai Colony. On Sunday, K A Shareef, husband of Vengola panchayat president Shemitha Shareef, along with a group of residents assaulted some migrant workers, accusing them of drug trade. However, Perumbavoor police said that they did not find any evidence against the migrants and based on CCTV footage, Shareef was arrested and remanded in custody. Police said that the action was taken to avoid a further flare-up, as such vigilante activities could quickly escalate and turn into a mob lynching situation. With the drug abuse even leading to deaths among migrants due to overdoses, police even rented a theatre in Perumbavoor to screen an awareness film in Bengali for them. Recently, residents placed a board in the area warning those who come to the area for flesh trade or seeking narcotics. Police later removed it, saying that such action would lead to a conflict, with even innocent migrants getting lynched. Public anger increased after the suspension of a civil police officer earlier this month, reportedly over his connections to the drug trade. V H Muhammed, vice-president of Vengola panchayat and ward member from Kandanthara, said that the main issue was in this region, where over 5,000 migrants reside. "Apart from drug abuse, flesh trade and gambling are rising here. Our demand is that police should act against the drug mafia instead of foisting fake cases against those who are acting against the drug trade," said Muhammed. Earlier, panchayat president Shemitha wrote to the chief minister, alleging that her husband was arrested for reacting to a social issue and that even students were coming to the area to buy drugs. Meanwhile, Vengola and Vazhakulam panchayat authorities held a joint inspection in the area on Friday. "We found that many of the migrants are residing in illegal buildings and the panchayat will initiate action against them," said Muhammed.