One shot in gangattack in Kerala
Criminals also threatening tax officials at checkpoint in Kumily
Thiruvananthapuram: The rise of hooligan gangs in the state took a new twist on Thursday, when a gang in Kochi, the commercial capital of the state, attacked an alleged rival operator in broad daylight.
One person, identified as Kunjumon, 44, was injured in the shooting. The injury was minor, but the gang war has shocked city residents.
Early reports said a five-man team had arrived at Kunjumon's house, shot at him and fled in a vehicle.
Police suspect rivalry between rowdy gangs to be the trigger behind the attack at Kumbalam.
Kunjumon was later shifted to hospital.
Check post trouble
Meanwhile, state finance minister Thomas Isaac said hooligans were threatening tax department officials at a check post at Kumily, on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, and alleged some in the police force were backing the criminals. Isaac said the gangs were preventing checks of vehicles. A bridge at the check post had also been damaged after apparently being hit by a vehicle.
It is believed part of the problem on the Tamil Nadu border surrounds the smuggling of cardamom from Kumily into Tamil Nadu.
Cardamom prices are running high and smuggling gangs are reportedly making good money from illegal transport of the spice.
