The Hindu : Kerala News : Uphill task for the police Law & order

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Kerala

Uphill task for the police Law & order

With the polling day drawing near, there have been many untoward incidents on the campaign trail, writes
Biju Govind.

Several untoward incidents in the district in the past week indicate that the law enforcers have a tough job ahead in the run-up to the elections on April 16. Most of these incidents relate to the election campaign.

In the latest episode, a group of persons, allegedly belonging to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), attempted to manhandle Edathupaksha Ekopana Samithi nominee for the Kozhikode constituency P. Kumarankutty on Thursday. The CPI(M) dissident, who is also a former councillor of the city Corporation, was campaigning at Panangad north in the Balussery Assembly segment. The attackers had earlier attempted to block his vehicle at Kannadikkal and Karaparamba in the city.

The CPI (ML) Mepayyur local secretary K.K. Kelappan and Yuvajana Vedi leader K. Sivadas were attacked when they were sticking posters of CPI(M) dissident candidate T.P. Chandrashekaran, who is contesting for the Vadakara constituency, at Kizhayiyur at 11 p.m. on Tuesday. Both had to be admitted to Government Hospital, Perambra.

Two Congress activists were injured when they were assaulted, allegedly by a mob of CPI (M) activists, during a vehicle campaign of the United Democratic Front at Naduvanoor in the district. Gireesh Kayanna, Youth Congress president, Balussery block, and K. Varun, Kerala Students’ Union block president, had to be admitted to Government Hospital, Balussery.

Congress nominee for the Kozhikode constituency M.K. Raghavan was manhandled and the mike snatched from him allegedly because the announcements during his vehicle campaign disrupted a Left Democratic Front street-corner meeting at Naduvanoor.

Mr. Raghavan was at the receiving end at Mananchira too when CPI(M) activists attempted to disrupt an election discussion programme.

The boiling differences between the Janata Dal (Secular) and the CPI(M) following the denial of the Kozhikode seat to the former have also resulted in law and order problems. A local committee office ‘Lohiya Vichara Mandir’ of the Janata Dal (S) at Kannankara, Chelanoor was attacked last week.

The police have not been able to do concentrate much on law and order since most of them have been assigned to election duty.

Senior officers have been engaged in making arrangements for the visit of Z-category security VIPs. Besides, all officers, especially those in the middle-rung, have been transferred following the election notification.

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