Kerala Goonda Act Minus Shoot-at-sight Clause

Business was as much guilty of fostering organised crime gangs as political outfits, Mr Antony told the State Assembly on Monday. Anti-social elements groomed by hire-purchase firms in the State have been proving so much of insecurity to civic life that the Kerala government had no option but to go for a legislation to strengthen the police hands.

“At the same time, given the socio-political fabric of Kerala, my government cannot allow shoot-at-sight provision against goondas as in other States,” Mr Antony, who hold the home portfolio, said in reply to a question.

Meanwhile, the business and political patrons of goondas should end this phenomenon, he warned.

From this month, a special drive against goondas will be set in motion in response to attacks by anti-social elements reported from various parts of the State. The State had been rocked by a series of attacks, some even gruesome murders of civilians, often, caught off-guard. Kochi, its business heartland, is also in the recent times described as the hub of criminal activities.