Kerala police to step up vigil at locations

Thiruvananthapuram: In the wake of the rape and murder of a tourist near the international tourist location Kovalam, the state police is initiating a slew of measures including electronic surveillance at all major spots. But the police would also ensure that privacy of tourists was not affected by the surveillance measures.

State police Chief Loknath Behera held a meeting of police officials here on Thursday to discuss the security measures. Deploying all-terrain-vehicles for carrying out beach patrolling, installing surveillance cameras  with the support of hotels and restaurants at tourist spots, ensuring proper lighting at tourist spots and carrying out special drives against drug peddling at tourist spots were the other decisions. The existing tourist police wing would be also strengthened.

IG Thiruvananthapuram-range Mr. Manoj Abraham said that imposing police surveillance at tourist spots needs to be done with caution as privacy of tourists should not be affected. He also said that in the case of the Latvian tourist's case, the police could not properly brief her sister about the efforts being taken to trace her after she was reported missing in March.  Hence the family initially expressed displeasure at the police action. But later the family was briefed about the progress on a daily basis and they were satisfied of the probe.