Several college students involved in crime

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A highly-placed police officer, on condition of anonymity, told Express that most of the recruits to criminal gangs hail from a Government college in the heart of the city. The students who adore heroism are being targeted by the gangsters. Those who enjoy throwing their weight around also seek assistance from the criminals. An engineering college operating in the vicinity of a colony which once was known as the den of the history-sheeters is also a hot spot of the recruiting gangs. Initially, students are asked to provide vehicles for the assailants and later they are used to provide logistic support for the actions. But the bizarre coincidence is that most of the criminal gangs operate at the behest of certain political leaders. They are used for avenging political opponents and are harboured by the concerned political parties. Now, various corners have started raising allegations at the police and administration, saying that the present probe is just a routine process meant to hoodwink the public, as the officials are shying away from going deep into the issue. Meanwhile, the City Police Commissioner Manoj Abraham appeared unruffled at the allegation and said that a large-scale recruitment of students has not been reported. ”They might be in touch with the criminals. But I can’t say that recruitment of students on a large-scale is taking place. After all, criminal instinct is congenital and an overnight recruitment cannot make a person a hard-core criminal,” he said.