THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Police Chief T P Senkumar has issued a directive to intensify surveillance at all major check-posts in the state, in the wake of a demand by Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac to rein in antisocial elements who create difficulties for sales tax officials, particularly at Walayar, Kambamettu, and Manjeswaram.

It has also been reported that goons had encroached upon the median of roads leading to the check-posts. Such encroachments must be removed by the cooperation of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Attempts to threaten officials must be prevented. Besides ensuring adequate police presence round-the-clock, Circle Inspectors must ensure inspection of check-posts, at least once every two days, for the next two months.

Senkumar said that the probe into an attack on a Sales Tax official’s vehicle that had been reported in Vembayam, Thiruvananthapuram, had not made much progress. Efforts must be made to expedite the investigation and ensure that those responsible for the attack were brought to book.