As many as 794 people were booked for drunken driving as part of a special combing operation conducted by Kochi range police between 5pm on Saturday till 5am on Sunday. The drive was carried out in the four districts of Ernakulam, Iduki, Kottayam and Alapuzha under the directive of Kochi range IG P Vijayan. The drive was launched as part of checking rising criminal activities in the region.
The police have also registered 59 cases and 57 persons apprehended for the sale of narcotic substances. Another 518 cases were registered for rash and negligent driving and causing public nuisance under the influence of alcohol. Meanwhile some 33 persons were booked under the Gaming Act for illegal gambling.
The unexpected operation launched by the police also registered 189 cases 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, 486 persons against whom non-bailable warrants were pending, including 42 persons wanted for serious crimes, were produced before the court.
In the quick overnight operation carried out by the police as many as 508 habitual offenders and 230 former drug peddlers were examined. Search operations were also conducted for weapons and drugs 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 as many as 346 inter-State luxury buses were subjected to examination for drunk driving.