Elaborate arrangements have been made by the police in the district amid law and order concerns on the occasion of parallel processions planned on August 24 under the aegis of the Sangh Parivar organisations and pro-Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] organisations.
The police here made additional deployments in some areas in anticipation of tension in connection with the Sree Krishna Jayanthi procession being organised by Balagokulam, a children's organisation under the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and the parallel ‘renaissance’ processions planned by the CPI(M) under the auspices of organisations loyal to it. Around 400 processions will be organised in different parts of the district, including Kannur, Thalassery, Taliparamba, and Mattannur.
Though the police have allotted separate time slots and spots for holding the processions, officers are concerned about problems that may ensue if the organisers do not adhere to the allotments. Thalassery and nearby areas, which recently witnessed skirmishes between CPI(M) and BJP workers, are being given special attention by the police.
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“Four platoons of police personnel have been deployed under the Thalassery police division,” said Thalassery Deputy Superintendent Prince Abraham. The police would take all precautions and make arrangements to avert any untoward incidents, he said.
According to organisers of the jayanthi celebration, ‘shobha yatras’ would be organised in nearly 300 centres in the district. There would be tableaus and pageantry featuring children in costumes to represent Sree Krishna and Gopikas, they said. The renaissance processions would have floats aimed at conveying messages of renaissance ideas of Sree Narayana Guru, Ayyankali, and Chattampi Swami, their organisers said. Cultural programmes would also be held on the occasion, they said.