Model students upbeat with new role

Students Sena to aid police during state school arts fest  

By Faris Arakkal

 

Its sure 52nd State School Arts Fest to be held from January 16 in the district will be a tapestry of talents and Students Sena will be a pool of talented students who will be 'omnipresent' at the school fest providing assistance. Around 300 students of Model Boys School and Model Girls School are now undergoing training by DySP Mohammed Arif and crew. In mornings and evenings, they have regular lessons. Students are thrilled with this 'out of syllabus' lessons.City Police Commissioner P Vijayan came to the schools directly and asked for a few students to help the cops during the fest. "The decision to select students from model schools was taken as these schools always stand different with brimming enthusiasm," said headmistress of Govt Model Boys School CA Chempakavalli. Sudheesh, one of the members of Students Sena from Govt Model Boys, said: "We have been trained in discipline too." Yes, the programme will help students lead a disciplined life after the fest. Police are also providing refreshment to the students attending the training. The students will also be given certificates by the commissioner for rendering the service. The students wearing a different uniform will be assigned different works during the fest in order to support police. Students Sena is not a novel idea that police are carrying out. A similar one was successfully executed during the last State School Arts Festival held in Kozhikode. Although there are schools in the district with community policing, these students are new to a community venture, so they are excited.

New breed of robbers on the prowl

By Faris Arakkal

 

By Faris Arakkal

 

For them, robbery is not a means of living unlike conventional thieves. Youth of today indulge in theft to make quick buck for leading a luxurious life with plenty of liquor and expensive gadgets and vehicles. With the strong urge to possess material things, youngsters are increasingly resorting to dubious methods such as smuggling, racketeering, cheating and robberies to become rich overnight. 'Enjoy life by any means' is their mantra. Three robbers-Sunil, Daniel and Manikandan-who broke into a house on Monday at Mullankunnathukavu were caught from a private bar. It was found that they got drunk from another bar near Mullamkunnathukavu before committing the crime. Cases booked by Shadow Police throw light on more such robberies. Shahin (23), Nikhil (25) and Shibin from Kozhikode were recently arrested in the district for robbing a private financial institution of Rs 4,72000. When questioned, it was revealed that the gang comprises around 50 members who are ready to do anything for fulfilling their material desires like boozing and buying costly clothes and gadgets. They operate at different part of the state. Twenty youth were arrested by Shadow Police on August 25 last year while making bombs on the terrace of a house near Pavaratty. They said that they were planning to attack and rob lonely travelers. Gangsters Appayi Girish and Mani who loved a luxurious life used to leave for Ootty and Mysore after robberies. "Wine and women were their favourites," said Shadow Police officers.Gangsters arrested from the Sathyamangalam forest in July last were addicted to liquor and ganja. These gangs include students who were found threatening their teachers in schools. While crime rate in the district is alarmingly rising, drug abuse and liquor addiction are found to be the villains. Shadow Police under City Police Commissioner P Vijayan have succeeded in quelling such crimes in the city to a great extent.