Jails in Malappuram full as crackdown continues

Jails in the district are overcrowded with those arrested in connection with the acts of vandalism and other offences resorted

to in the name of a hartal called by a social media collective on Monday.

Hundreds of youngsters, irrespective of political affiliations, had taken to the street imposing the hartal on Monday in protest against the rape and killing of an eight-year-old girl at Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir.

The police continued the crackdown on those who had taken the law into their hands. District Police Chief Debeshkumar Behara said the police had collected ample number of photographs and video footage to establish the identity of those who took part in criminal activities, including looting.

“We are not going to spare anyone. Whatever happened was so dangerous that it should be dealt with in an exemplary manner,” said Mr. Behara.

He said 400 youngsters were already arrested, and many more arrests would be made soon.

As the jails in the district are full, those arrested afresh would be sent to jails in Kozhikode district. Mr. Behara said various

sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act would be slapped on them.

Section 23 of the POCSO Act and Section 228A of the IPC will be slapped on the vandals, apart from sections that deal with destroying public property and prevention of people’s movement. Those sections deal with punitive action for publishing the identity of the rape victim.

Sections concerning communal hatred will also be invoked, Mr. Behara said.

Youth clubs and organisations that had given leadership for the hartal will also have to face the music. Clubs and organisations will lose their licence if found guilty.

The police have slapped sections for dacoity too on those involved in the looting of a bakery at Tanur. “We got a crystal clear video identifying those responsible for the act,” said the District Police Chief.