Alleged potential anti-social nodes in and around the city have come under the police scanner following a recent incident in which a young woman was allegedly subjected to an attempted rape by three men in an abandoned building near South Railway Station after her boyfriend was held at knifepoint.
The incident has reignited concerns about the security risks posed by derelict buildings, overgrown areas and poorly lit stretches across the city, many of which have repeatedly figured in cases of alleged drug abuse, theft, assault and anti-social activity.
The Kochi city police has now launched a mission to identify and monitor vulnerable spots that could turn into hideouts for criminals. District Superintendent of Police (Kochi City) Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar said police teams have been conducting inspections across the city in recent days to identify such places and assess security risks.
The officer said several abandoned structures in the city, including unused commercial facilities and unfinished apartment complexes, were questionable properties that had remained neglected for years. “Concerned authorities and property owners will be asked to strengthen security measures, including fencing the premises, improving lighting and installing camera surveillance systems. In addition, police surveillance will be strengthened in these places,” he said. He added that the police do not yet have a database of such vulnerable places.
Meanwhile, police sources said people coming from other districts and states sometimes use such abandoned structures as temporary shelters and some of them end up getting involved in crime and drug-related offences.
Areas under the Ernakulam North and South railway flyovers, South Kalamassery flyover area and areas around the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kaloor are among the vulnerable spots requiring closer vigilance, sources added.
Published – 09 May 2026 21:30 IST
