Maoist look-alikes' not welcome to Akademi gallery

Kozhikode: The Maoists have unintentionally  brought some misery to the art lovers in the city who visit the  Kerala Lalitakala Akademi art gallery sporting  long beard, hair,  wearing   kurta and jeans and giving  a casual look.   The police look at them suspiciously as if  they are planning the next attack in the city and have begun to block them from the premises of the  art gallery. Responding  to  the police action,  the art lovers have  decided to organise a symbolic protest in front of the gallery by spending a whole night there  with celebrations. 

Even the people are looking at the visitors to the gallery like criminals because of the behaviour of the police who have curtailed their rights, they allege.    Ms P. Rincy  is one of the victims who were  questioned by the police officials for using the gallery premises for a long time. “I like to tie-up my hair messily, wear un-ironed clothes and carry a cloth bag. This is my style and I don’t want  to change it in the near future as per the  whims and fancies of others,” she said.   

“The police assume that with long beard, hair and kurta,  you are another Maoist merging up in the city and they stare  at us as if we are planning the next attack,” she  said. The  police officials  said that they had received complaints  about the  drug mafias using the premises of the art gallery and the railway track nearby for exchanging  narcotic products.  “Hence we are keeping a vigil and have deployed police men  for frequent checking there.   We have not interfered in the activities of the visitors to the gallery,”  said  Mr N. Radhakrishnan,  a city police official.