Peace a pipe dream here

Peace remains a distant dream for the Shanthi Nagar Colony (the erstwhile Bangladesh Colony) which continues to be a trouble spot in the city that gives headache for the police.

The clashes that erupted on Wednesday night have proved that all efforts to flush out drug-pushers have come to a naught. The clash began when the Janakiya Samithi, which was formed to ‘prevent the drug-pushers’ from the colony, set ablaze a club formed by another group.

It is alleged that Mani, a big fish in the Kozhikode brown sugar racket, formed the club in order to enhance his business. Janakiya Samithi alleged that the members of the club assaulted a member of the Samithi a couple of days ago.

The recent scuffle between the two groups has also laid a strong foundation to suspect the involvement of political parties in the clash. Congress alleges the involvement of CPM workers in the scuffle.

There are more than what meets the eye behind the developments in the colony. There are different interests at play which makes things difficult for the law enforcing agencies.

The role of police in the whole affairs was under the cloud of suspicion till a few months ago. There were even charges that some senior police officers were part of the drug-trafficking.

Police have till now failed to crack the network of drug business in the city, though they themselves admitted that drugs like cocaine has been introduced. The wholesale dealers are yet to be traced and it is the small fries that fall in the police net.

It was also found that the schemes declared by successive governments still remain on papers, adding credence to the charge that there is a section who wants to keep the colony as it is.

It may be recalled that M P Veerendrakumar MP declared the Bangladesh colony as Santhi Nagar Colony on August 13, 2006, at a function held on the colony premises.