Vigilance conducts raids at police stations

KOCHI: Cracking down on the corruption prevalent at the police stations in the state, the Vigilance Special Cell on Thursday conducted surprise raids at certain selected police and traffic police stations, unearthed irregularities and brought to book the corrupt officials. The Ernakulam range Vigilance unit conducted raids at Thrissur Town police station, Palakkad Town police station, traffic units at Aluva and Hill Palace and Traffic police stations at Kochi City West and Edapally.Sources said the raids were initiated after there were reports that largescale corruption was taking place at the traffic police stations across the state. "We got information about traffic police officials demanding money to release vehicles from the police stations," the sources said.Ernakulam Vigilance Special Cell Superintendent K V Joseph said the Vigilance team had recovered unaccounted money to the tune of `1,300 from the chest of a table at the Edappally traffic station.He said the Vigilance team had also identified certain irregularities prevalent at various traffic police stations in the city limits."We have recommended departmental action against those police officials who have been found indulging in malpractices," the official said.