<![CDATA[The Kerala Police arrested 794 persons for drunk driving during a special drive by the police in the districts falling under the Ernakulam Range. The drive, launched with a view to checking the rising number of criminal activities in the region, was carried out on the directive of Mr. P. Vijayan, Inspector General of Police. Further, action was initiated against 59 persons on the charge of selling banned substances. The police arrested 518 persons on charges of rash and negligent driving and causing public nuisance under the influence of alcohol, while 33 persons were booked under the Gaming Act for gambling. Similarly, 189 cases were registered against 205 persons for drinking in public, and 5,685 persons were booked for various offences under the Motor Vehicles Act. As part of the drive, 468 persons, against whom non-bailable warrants were pending including 42 persons wanted in serious criminal cases, were produced before the court. As many as 508 habitual offenders and 230 former drug peddlers were examined, and search operations for weapons and drugs were conducted in 264 locations in the region. Besides, 721 persons listed during Operation Goonda and 63 others who were suspected to have links with religious fundamentalists were subjected to examination. Drivers of 346 inter-State luxury buses were subjected to examination for drunk driving.]]>
