Because of the Pooram affair, the Kerala government fires ACP, the commissioner of police in Thrissur

The state government finally crumbled under pressure on Sunday and ordered the removal of Assistant Commissioner (ACP) K Sudersan and Thrissur Police Commissioner Ankit Asokan, after growing condemnation of police “high-handedness” during the Thrissur Pooram. According to a statement, the transfers will only take place with the Election Commission’s approval because of the model code of conduct.

 

The state police head was also instructed by head Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who oversees the home ministry, to carry out a departmental investigation into the accusations and provide a report in a week.

The government’s directive was issued in response to harsh criticism leveled at the police restrictions during the pooram, which provided fuel for the UDF and the BJP to intensify their campaign against the Left front and the state government in the last stages of the election campaign.

The Thiruvambady devaswom had suddenly terminated the rituals late on Friday in protest of the police restrictions. The fireworks show was then postponed for more than three hours. The devaswom officials had claimed that police obstructed people’s freedom of movement and utilized barriers wherever feasible.

In response to criticism that the police overreached in their security measures, a video of the police commissioner obstructing committee members and volunteers on route to feed elephants and retrieve parasols for Kudamattam within the temple has gone viral on social media.

“Many police officers on duty were not aware of schedules or rituals.”

Sources claim that the commissioner was held accountable for the unanticipated occurrences in an internal Special Branch report. Only top officers were informed in advance about the pooram duty, according to the special branch report, and the other staff members were not informed about the festival customs or its date.

It has been reported that a large number of police officers were not aware of the nighttime madathil varavu event. As a result, they obstructed its path at around 10.30 p.m., causing havoc at Pazhayanadakkavu. The report also said that the police commissioner often acted harshly toward members of the public and even the devaswom committee, which infuriated them.

Over 3,500 police officers were assigned to their duties to ensure public safety during the 36-hour Thrissur Pooram celebrations. Those on pooram duty were mostly from other districts and were unaware of its customs since the duties were assigned before to the election. It has been discovered that no information on the arrangements was given prior to the pooram’s eve, simply the location of the duty and hours.

“Many police officers lacked briefings”

An internal special branch study claims that only top officers were informed in advance of the pooram duty, with other staff members being unaware of the schedule and customs.

A crowd gathers at Thrissur Pooram in Kerala to see elephants kept in captivity.