Thugs from communities known to maintain links with Tivoli Gardens are now complaining that too much unwanted attention is being placed on them.

It is speculated that a number of gunmen managed to escape and have sought refuge in other nearby communities while the security forces pounded west Kingston on Labour Day.

Over the past two weeks, at least 25 alleged gang leaders and members have turned themselves in after the police released their names and urged them to do so.

Some of these communities are known to have strong links with west Kingston and even had an upsurge in violence while the security forces moved into Tivoli Gardens.

Featured on the lists were men from east and central Kingston, St Catherine and St Andrew.

When THE STAR visited one such community in central Kingston, a group of men were quick to point out that they were quite uncomfortable with the welcoming of their west Kingston counterparts.

"Wi know seh a reasons why dem deh yah still but mi naw lie nuff a wi nuh too comfortable cause wi know a just a matter of time until di police and soldier dem run in pon wi to and seh a man from west Kingston dem a look fah," one thug reasoned.

massive offensive

Those around him made similar comments and even went on to add that men from west Kingston have the perception that they were 'untouchable' and can do anything they want, this the men say can make matters worse.

They used the reports of an attack on a police station in the community one day before the security forces launched a massive offensive in Tivoli Gardens and its environs as an example.

little edgy

"Yu have some a dem feel like dem untouchable eno and dem bad up demself anyweh dem go, but none a dem naw go diss mi and get weh eno mi promise dat ... A dem come ya come shot up di station eno and a man round ya ago get bad name fi it now," another thug explained.

Over in an east Kingston community, thugs there also admitted to being a little edgy.

"No man naw openly show how dem really feel eno, but if you and a man reason one away him ago show yu di vibes," one man told THE STAR.

Another said, "Wi and dem link of course and wi understand di situation to but wi affi memba seh a same way di police and soldier probably ago waa run in pon wi and do di same ting wah dem do a Tivoli ..."

Meanwhile, the police say they are indeed aware that gunmen from west Kingston have been seeking safe havens in other communities all over the island.

When THE STAR contacted Head of CIB, Assistant Commissioner Les Green, he said the police are appealing to law abiding residents of such communities to assist by passing on information if they see strange faces.

"Yea we have picked up on the situation and we know they are all over the place.We picked up some in Matthews Lane the other day and our operations are ongoing," he said. "We are appealing to persons to contact the police if they see strange faces in their communities..This can help to limit certain risks and so it is very important to us."