Eliminate quotation gangs in the state, says HC

KOCHI: It is high time the authorities thought of curbing the activities of quotation gangs, as persons engaged with such teams are seasoned criminals, the Kerala High Court observed on Friday.Dismissing the bail plea by four accused, including Deputy SP Santhosh Nair, in the murder attempt on journalist V B Unnithan, Justice K T Sankaran observed that quotation gangs were active not only in metro cities, but also in the villages of the state.The number of such gangs was alarmingly on the rise in the state.Words like 'quotation gang' and 'quotation work' had now become familiar to the people of Kerala, the court said.The court dismissed the bail applications filed by Mahesh alias Punchiri Mahesh, Shafeek, Sreebhadra Nagar, DySP Santhosh Nair and Santhosh alias Container Santhosh.The prosecution's case is that Unnithan, a Kollambased reporter of Mathrubhumi, was attacked by a gang allegedly engaged by DySP Santhosh Nair.Unnithan had reported about a liquor party on October 11, 2009 night at Kollam Guest House which was organised by an abkari for four police officers, including Santhosh Nair.This prompted Santhosh Nair to take vengeance against Unnithan for which he conspired with Container Santhosh and engaged the gang to attack him on April 16, 2010."If police officers engage gangs for their private purpose, how can the common man expect justice? The accused DySP had filed complaint before the criminal court against reporters of Mathrubhumi and Malayala Manorama last year. But he was not satisfied even after initiating criminal action against those who allegedly reported against him. Engaging quotation gang for eliminating his enemy proves that Santhosh had no faith in the criminal justice administration. If the same path is followed by others, where would be the rule of law?" the court said."These gangs do not hesitate to do anything in order to execute their work. A common man will be afraid of such gangs. Unemployed youngsters get attracted to these gangs. People are afraid to utter any word against them," the court observed."The person who engages a quotation gang maintains his social status, while he conveniently oppresses his rivals. Affluent people maintain such gangs, as they need not fear anybody and the common man shudders before them," the court said.