Moral Policing: Murder attempt case to be registered

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The police can now register a case for murder attempt against “morality polices” whose self-appointed job is to enforce standards of moral behavior and religious adherence among the general public.

A directive regarding this was issued by DGP Jacob Punnoose just before he retired from the post. In the directive he clearly stated that such people should not be called “morality polices”, but ‘Intimidatory Compulsive Conformity Enforcement’ (ICCE). The draft of the directive also got acceptance from the Home Ministry.

The police can take suo motu case against them. Morality polices may get 3 to 5 years’ imprisonment on the grounds of treason. The copies of the draft will be sent to all police officers and police stations soon.

Those sections which can be used to register cases against ICCE are: 307, 324, 323, 326, 383, 390, 395, 153, 153 A and 153 B.