To ensure peaceful conduct of Thevar Jayanthi on October 30, the district administration and the police held talks with community leaders here on Thursday and made it clear that the restrictions imposed for the Immanuel Sekaran death anniversary would be followed for Thevar Jayanthi too.
As per the prohibitory order promulgated by the Collector K. Nanthakumar on September 8 based on the recommendations of Superintendent of Police N.M. Mylvahanan, all types of hired vehicles and two-wheelers carrying volunteers to the memorial in Pasumpon and carrying of jyothis (torch) were banned.
Dissatisfied with the restrictions, a section of the community leaders and representatives of political parties staged a walkout from the meeting, but the district administration made it clear that the restrictions would be strictly enforced and the ban on hired vehicles carrying volunteers would be in force from October 25 to 31.
Those who walked out of the meeting demanded the restrictions on hired vehicles and carrying of jyothis be relaxed, but the SP rejected their demand.
“The restrictions need to be enforced strictly for the peaceful conduct of Thevar Jayanthi,” he told The Hindu .
Pointing out that the prohibitory order in the district was still in effect, the Collector said at the meeting that those who visited the memorial from the district and from neighbouring districts should come in their own vehicles after obtaining permission from the respective police station.
Their convoys should not have more than three vehicles.
They should not travel on top of their vehicles, carry any arms and fit cone type speakers in their vehicles, the Collector and SP said, and added that the volunteers should also not carry banners or raise slogans inciting communal hatred.
The district administration would ensure adequate bus services on permitted routes in the district, but the volunteers should not carry jyothi materials, banners, flags, any arms and music instruments in the buses, the Collector said.
People should also not take out ‘padayatras’, carrying jyothis to pay homage at Pasumpon. They would be allowed to go in ‘padayatra’ only on prescribed routes inside the village.
The volunteers could carry jyothis for one km up to the memorial after obtaining prior permission from the Collector.
He further said only leaders of registered political parties would be allotted time schedules to pay homage at the memorial based on written requisitions submitted before October 22.
The SP said in a video conferencing meeting on Monday, the Collectors and SPs of Madurai, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Theni and Pudukottai districts were informed of the details of the restrictions.
