It seems like the Kiss of Love event, which hoped to redefine lip lock in public, will now end up locking horns instead with the city police force. Despite the city police force’s decision to deny permission for the event, an organiser of the event told The Hindu that they will defy the police orders and go ahead with their plan.
Farmis Hashim, who organised the event in Kochi, said they were trying to gather support from as many people as possible and conduct the event. “We are concerned about the safety of the participants and the event will be planned keeping these considerations. The venue and timings would be intimated shortly,” he said.
He alleged that some of the Bengaluru-based organisers were receiving threat calls forcing them to keep a low profile and not engage with the media.
Taking exception to the police denying permission on law and order grounds, he said “If the police are present at the event, why should there be a law and order problem?”
Earlier during the day, Police Commissioner M.N. Reddi said permission was denied after much deliberation.
“Granting permission would go against the obscenity provisions under section 294 (a) of Indian Penal Code. Moreover, considering that granting permission would lead to serious law and order situation we have decided to decline permission,” he said.
Mr. Reddi said, “We have been asking the organiser for the number of people participating, the timings and whether the organisers will take responsibility for any untoward incident during the event. Nobody has replied to these questions, forcing us to deny permission,” he said.
Mr. Reddi said the provisions are clear on obscenity, which states that whoever indulges in a obscene act in any public place will be liable for punishment.
