Police beef up security for Shobha Yathras in Kannur and Kozhikode

KOZHIKODE: The police have made elaborate arrangements in Kannur and Kozhikode districts to prevent any untoward incidents during Shobha Yathras on Wednesday, as both the CPM and the Sangh Parivar organisations have planned parallel programmes on Sri Krishna Jayanthi. Kannur SP Sanjay Kumar Gurudin has also issued notices to leaders of both the camps saying that they will be responsible for any  violence, disturbance and destruction to property during the processions. The police  held a meeting of the leaders to avoid any untoward incidents.  

Mr Gurudin told DC that steps were taken to avoid overlapping of rallies. “We have ensured it in almost 80 percent of the rallies and in the case of the remaining 20 percent we have ensured maximum security,” he added.  In Kozhikode district, the police hope  that there will not be any friction as the CPM is planning an intellectual  resistance campaign. The rallies and processions would be limited to these points.City police commissioner Uma Behera told DC  that  proper security will be ensured for the rallies.

Instructions were already given to the traffic wing to put in place diversions to avoid traffic jams in the city, she said. In Kozhikode district,  Balagokulam is conducting as many as 2,500 Shobha Yathras which the CPM says is an attempt to saffronise  Hindu society. The CPM is all set to resist the saffronisation move  using the renaissance spirit of Chattampi Swamikal by conduting programmes in more than 200 points. The Kannur district committee had launched the programme in the district as a parallel to Shobha Yathras, which is being conducted at state-level this year.