A string of violent incidents involving people with criminal records reported from different parts of the city over the past few months has triggered fresh concerns over public safety. At least one such case in which people, including women, were attacked by such groups has been reported from the city almost every month since March.

Two back-to-back group assault cases, allegedly triggered by road rage, were reported from near Kakkanad in the past two weeks. While three men, two of them history-sheeters, have been arrested for allegedly brutally assaulting three youths following a dispute over road space on Sunday, four identifiable people have been booked for allegedly beating up a 52-year-old man in a similar incident on July 22.

In June, two young women were allegedly harassed and physically assaulted in Kaloor during early hours, after they objected to lewd gestures and verbal abuse near a tea shop. The police subsequently arrested multiple suspects. In May-end, a police team was injured after they allegedly came under attack from a group of youths, suspected to be in an inebriated state, near Marottichodu at Unichira. Early in May, a woman was allegedly assaulted at knifepoint near the Ernakulam Junction Railway Station, leading to two arrests. In March, a three-member gang allegedly assaulted an employee of a teashop as they were provoked by the delay in giving them cigarettes.

Sources with the city police said such incidents kept occurring despite frequent patrols. Officers said most of the recent incidents involving groups occurred following sudden provocations and often under the influence of intoxicants. “None of the recent cases were planned attacks. However, they create a sense of fear among people who have to go out at night,” conceded an officer with the city police.

The officer said repeat offenders were being tracked consistently, and strict action including invocation of the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act was being taken against them.

The Ernakulam Rural police, meanwhile, said they had been cracking down on goons and history-sheeters under Operation Steel Bird, a special drive launched in March.

District Police Chief (Ernakulam Rural) K.S. Sudarshan said 22 alleged habitual offenders had been arrested since March under the operation launched to prevent organised crime.

“Special teams have been constituted for intelligence gathering and tracking wanted accused. Surveillance on habitual offenders has been intensified, and preventive arrests will be made to stop crimes before they are committed. The department will also initiate steps to seek cancellation of bail granted to the arrested accused in their earlier criminal cases,” Mr. Sudarshan said.

Published - July 29, 2026 07:38 pm IST