Kerala intensifies Operation Toofan drug crackdown

Kerala is intensifying its anti-drug campaign, Operation Toofan, ahead of the Onam festival. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala announced that the second phase of the operation will launch after the festivities, promising to strike with “ten times the force” compared to the initial phase. The government has placed borders on high alert to prevent drug inflows during the holiday season and has warned that political affiliations will not protect individuals accused of drug offenses.

The crackdown has led to significant logistical challenges for the state's correctional system. Since the campaign began on June 2, nearly 10,000 arrests have been made, with over 1,000 individuals remanded to judicial custody. This surge has resulted in severe overcrowding in Kerala's prisons. Currently, the state houses 9,979 inmates in facilities designed for 7,416 people.

Overcrowding is particularly acute in the Thiruvananthapuram zone. The Poojappura central prison, for example, holds 1,580 inmates in a space intended for 727. Other facilities in Kannur and Thavanur are also operating beyond their sanctioned capacities. Officials and retired correctional officers have noted that while the situation remains under control, the construction of new permanent prison facilities may be necessary to manage the rising inmate population.