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.
