Rural Development Minister K.C. Joseph has flayed the district police for its 'failure' to protect the Collectorate and its employees against the recent attacks during the protest by youth organisations against the raising of retirement age of government employees.
Inaugurating the district conference of the Kerala Police Officers' Association (KPOA) here on Saturday, Mr. Joseph said that it was a shame that the police could not stop the attacks against the Collectorate located a stone's throw from the district police headquarters. He said that the police here had a history of confronting larger and much more serious incidents of violence. He reminded the police officers that the police force was duty bound to ensure rule of law and protect people's life and property. The State government's stand was that a contented police force was essential for ensuring these goals. He, however, said that some incidents of violence reported from some parts of the district, could not be accepted.
Though the people in a democracy had the right to protest and agitate, the right was not without any limits. When the protest crosses the limits, the police should act and not remain mute spectators, he told the police officers. He also said that the Chief Minister had taken the incidents in Kannur seriously.
KPOA district vice-president P.V. Ravi presided. Armed Reserve Camp Assistant Commander Abdul Nisar, Town Circle Inspector P. Sukumaran, KPOA State president P. Anand, secretary K. Bhaskaran and treasurer K.V. Krishnan were among those present at the conference.
