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Kerala cops to crack down on moral police
The Kerala Police are preparing to take tough action against those who commit crimes in the name of protecting moral values. As per a recent order issued in this regard, the police would initiate criminal cases on incidents of moral policing even in the absence of complaints.
Cases would be taken on incidents of moral policing as per sections in the Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code or the Felonious Activities Prevention Ordinance (anti-goonda law) charging the offenders under non-bailable sections depending on the nature and seriousness of the crimes.
Kerala has been witnessing an increase in incidents of moral policing, mostly associated with attitudes of religious fundamentalism, since last year. Fundamentalists posing as moral police had hacked and stabbed to death a youth, Shahid Bawa, at Kodiyathur in Kozhikode district in November last year allegedly for visiting the home of a woman late in the night.
A young Dalit driver, Premana alias Babu, had committed suicide in Koilandy near Kozhikode in February this year after being attacked and humiliated in public by certain people alleging misconduct. In June last, a group of young man had brutally attacked a youth at Kayamkulam in Alappuzha district for speaking to a woman belonging to a different religion.
As per the Government order, the police could use the existing laws being used to book criminals in the case of self-appointed guards of morality. It also says that inquiries should be completed and action should be taken in such cases speedily. However, the police intervention should not be in ways that could infringe upon others’ rights.
In the event of murder, attempt to murder, violence, extortion, theft or any other crime takes place in connection with moral policing, the police could take cases for the same crimes. If the violence is intended at causing religious strife case should be taken on that charge itself, as per the order.
The Kerala Police are preparing to take tough action against those who commit crimes in the name of protecting moral values. As per a recent order issued in this regard, the police would initiate criminal cases on incidents of moral policing even in the absence of complaints.
Cases would be taken on incidents of moral policing as per sections in the Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code or the Felonious Activities Prevention Ordinance (anti-goonda law) charging the offenders under non-bailable sections depending on the nature and seriousness of the crimes.
Kerala has been witnessing an increase in incidents of moral policing, mostly associated with attitudes of religious fundamentalism, since last year. Fundamentalists posing as moral police had hacked and stabbed to death a youth, Shahid Bawa, at Kodiyathur in Kozhikode district in November last year allegedly for visiting the home of a woman late in the night.
A young Dalit driver, Premana alias Babu, had committed suicide in Koilandy near Kozhikode in February this year after being attacked and humiliated in public by certain people alleging misconduct. In June last, a group of young man had brutally attacked a youth at Kayamkulam in Alappuzha district for speaking to a woman belonging to a different religion.
As per the Government order, the police could use the existing laws being used to book criminals in the case of self-appointed guards of morality. It also says that inquiries should be completed and action should be taken in such cases speedily. However, the police intervention should not be in ways that could infringe upon others’ rights.
In the event of murder, attempt to murder, violence, extortion, theft or any other crime takes place in connection with moral policing, the police could take cases for the same crimes. If the violence is intended at causing religious strife case should be taken on that charge itself, as per the order.
