JEDDAH, 10 February 2007 — Neighborhood patrols and civilian action forces, advertisements and increased sales for home alarm devices, construction of walled-in complexes with 24-hour security and audio-visual security equipments. No, we are not talking about a crime-ridden American city here. It is our own Kerala, the land of literacy and quiet scenic beauty that is now in the crime spotlight.

The number of crimes reported in Kerala has recently escalated to an alarming scale. The reasons given range from the influx of out-of-state workers from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Bangladesh to the general feeling that the police are simply incompetent.

There is a belief among thieves that large amounts of cash are in the houses of people whose relatives work abroad, and that there may not be men in those houses. The emergence of large groups in the state that are willing to carry out contract killings and the influence of international TV channels, Internet and video games giving crime an aura of fantasy and charm, especially to the unemployed and educated have tipped the scales toward crime in Kerala. Whatever the reasons may be, the slow emergence of organized crime, especially against women, is frightening and every Keralite looks apprehensively at it.

Leela Menon, a social activist and veteran journalist, says, “Yes, definitely there has been an increase in the crime rate. These days we have the sand mafia, sandal mafia and sex mafia. Women are assaulted from the cradle to the grave. At home, on the street and in the workplace, she undergoes harassment. In a way it is all due to women’s docile and unresisting nature.”

Is it only a lack of resistance from women that is the cause? A source in the Justice Department asks, “How do you expect the police to do their duty? They themselves had to pay bribes for their appointments and transfers. Irrespective of which party is in power, corruption reigns from highest to lowest —even to the extent that an honest officer will succumb having been left with no other alternative.”

A senior official in the Vigilance Department candidly stated,” Who are the criminals? The poor petty thieves who are in jail? The real criminals are out with the support of political mafia. Politicians, police and criminals have made it virtually impossible for anyone to carry out his duty.” In the play of police and thief, the judiciary seems to be a helpless onlooker most of the time.

An advocate practicing at the Kerala High Court commented,” The corruption in our legislature and executive departments has undermined the judicial system too. The police maintain an unholy relationship, even with new criminals.

Right after their arrest, criminals are advised by the police how to proceed, which lawyer is best and after taking all sorts of bribes, further investigation will be willfully messed up by the police and the case will be thrown out. Since the law of our country insists on the offence being proven beyond doubt, the court becomes helpless in punishing the guilty in such cases.”

The police seem to be taking some action within limits. Recently DIG Padmakumar issued green cards to college students to use in contacting the police in the event of an emergency. He has a different perception of the state of affairs. “It is the increase in media reporting that has caused this alarm. Definitely there has been no increase in the crime rate in Kerala. We have a repressed society and an increase in weak moral codes has resulted in a lot of eve teasing and related crimes.

“The media too has given many ideas that have affected the psyche of the criminals. However we file an FIR for every crime that is reported. We investigate every crime reported and it is the increase of media awareness that has given the crime scene a larger than life picture,” he adds.