The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Coimbatore News : `Police curtailing rights'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 22, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

`Police curtailing rights'

Staff Reporter

No, only abiding by court ruling and guidelines: Commissioner

A meeting of the Opposition parties held in the city on Tuesday to discuss the restrictions imposed by the police on them. - Photo: M. Periasamy

COIMBATORE: An all-party meeting convened by the Opposition has accused the City Police of imposing restrictions on the democratic rights of political parties in terms of granting permission for demonstrations and public assemblies.

The meeting held under the chairmanship of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) district secretary, P. R. Natarajan and was attended by the leaders of the district units of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Indian National Congress, Marumazharchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Pattali Makkal Katchi, MGR Kazhagam, Indian Union Muslim League, Indian National Trade Union Congress, Centre for Indian Trade Unions, All India Trade Union Congress and Marumazharchi Labour Front.

The meeting demanded the police to ease restrictions on pasting of unobjectionable posters brought out by established political parties and trade unions, end removal of hoardings erected without obstructing traffic, end intervention of police in wall-paintings which have the consent and no-objection from property owners, permit public meetings till midnight in two places in each division, permit dharnas, demonstrations using public address systems at places earmarked for the conduct of such meetings, permit democratic forms of agitations before Central and State Government offices by employees unions, earmark four routes for conduct of processions without hindering the free flow of traffic, permit demonstrations and agitations in front of industrial establishments.

When contacted the City Police Commissioner, Karan Singha, said that the police would not stand in the way of any rights that are constitutionally guaranteed in a democratic set-up.

The Commissioner said that there had been no denial of any permission for any political party, unless until there was an apprehension about breach of public peace.

The police had the mandate to ensure that no form of agitation hindered the free flow of traffic in the city. The police had to abide by the ruling of the Supreme Court and the guidelines. Complaints against supervisory officers at the jurisdiction level could be taken up with the office of the Commissioner of Police, he said. Two places, one at Gandhipuram and the other in front of the Red Cross buildings, have been earmarked for the conduct of dharnas and demonstrations.

The police would find an amicable solution to the grievances expressed by the Opposition, he said.

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