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| M.P.Azad, Sub Inspector, Kudiyanmala, Kannur |
Spurious liquor was the bane of Kudiyanmala, a border village of Kannur District. So serious was its effect on public law and order that women feared to travel by the Poopparambu-Karivellory Road even during daytime. Proximity to Karnataka made the supply lines of arrack smooth and aggravated the problem. It was in such a situation that newly appointed M.P.Azad of Kozhikode took over as the Sub Inspector of the station.
He soon realized that the usual police style interventions only resulted in new hands taking up the illegal operations ones the veterans were behind bars. So, with the support of Abdul Karim, Dy.S.P, he devised a people-oriented approach. Even women in large numbers came forward to be active in the people’s committee.
Soon, the community themselves started intercepting the carriers of spurious liquor. Slowly but surely, the illegal liquor sale in the area came to a halt, thanks to the Sub Inspector and his allies - the people. The ban of arrack in neighbouring Karnataka too helped in the success.
However, the addicts and their suppliers now turned to the Indian-made foreign liquor – something that is legal. Two youth in inebriated state died in automobile accident. It was estimated that during Onam celebrations, the small village consumed a considerable amount of the stuff. With the Sub Inspector unearthing empty bottles to prove the menace, the people’s committee became active again.
5 addicts were sent for treatment. The active opposition of the committee – including women – forced the liquor lobby to close their operation in the area.
Thus the Poopparambu-Karivellory road had been made ‘azad’ or ‘liberated’. And what better gift could the people of the area give their people-oriented Sub Inspector than to name that very road as ‘Sub Inspector M.P.Azad Road’.
Courtesy:
T.Ajeesh (text), Abu Hashim (photo), Sree, Malayala Manorama, November
11, 2007
Contributed by: Administrator
