The police have beefed up security in the city and in the Vadakara region of the district in view of the anniversaries of the Marad killings and the murder of Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP) leader T.P. Chandrasekharan, all falling next week.
The anniversary of the police firing in Onchiyam, near Vadakara, on April 30, 1948, in which 10 persons were killed and several others injured, will also be observed next week.
A high-level meeting presided by Additional Director General of Police (North Zone) N. Shankar Reddy at Vadakara on Thursday decided to chalk out an action plan regarding this. Senior police officers, including the Kannur Range Inspector General of Police Suresh Raj Purohit and district police chiefs, took part in the meeting.
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Official sources said the police planned to clamp prohibitory orders under Section 78 (regulation to prevent violence) and Section 79 (regulation of public assemblies) of the Kerala Police Act in Vadakara.
The same time last year, the police had imposed orders in four panchayats of Onchiyam, Chorodu, Eramala, and Edacherry for a fortnight.
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The high security this year was decided upon following a report given by the special branch (intelligence wing) of the police that warned of a possibility of violence in the Onchiyam region.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI-M], Communist Party of India (CPI), and the RMP will observe the Onchiyam Martyrs Day on April 30.
All political parties would be observing the May Day. The RMP would observe the second death anniversary of T. P. Chandrasekharan, who was killed at Vallikkad near Onchiyam on May 4, 2012.
Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Reddy said the rural police had stepped up security in the region especially in the wake of heightened political activity in the last few days. Posters of political parties had come up at many places.
Special teams had been deployed to check the movement of vehicles from other places including Kannur district. Patrolling had also been intensified during night hours. Squads would be deployed to check for explosives and other weapons.
He also said the police would take a final decision on whether to impose prohibitory orders depending on the situation that emerged by the weekend. Bandobust including police pickets had been set up in sensitive spots. Surveillance had also been stepped up in the region, Mr. Reddy said.
A.V. George, Commissioner of Police, Kozhikode city, said Marad and Beypore police stations had been put on alert following the anniversary of the Marad massacre on May 2. Nine fishermen were killed at Marad village on May 2, 2003.
A police force led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police was stationed at the seaside village. A control room was also operating from the coastal area. Vehicles entering the area would be checked, the Commissioner said.