Police blamed as Sabarimala protests continue to rock Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: Protests over women worshippers gaining access to Sabarimala temple continued in sporadic fashion on Sunday, keeping state police on their toes in a seemingly never-ending exercise to tackle restive protesters across Kerala.

After all the hard work of trying to ensure law and order in a scenario where women seeking to enter the temple face off with devotees determined to bar their entry, the police force has largely ended up on the receiving end.

The federal government sought a report from the state about the situation last week, with Governor P. Sathasivan conveying the details in his report.

One civil police officer added to the confusion in the state police force by blaming senior officers in the force while singling out Kozhikode’s police commissioner as one of the people whose inefficiency led to bad policing during last week’s shutdown.

In his social media post, civil police official Umesh Vallikkunnu said ordinary policemen had worked round the clock ahead of the statewide shutdown to try and offer security to the shops in Kozhikode’s Mithai Street, but poor management at the top brought all their efforts to nought.

Pointing out one of the many flaws in policing, Vallikkunnu noted, “In Kozhikode Valiyangadi, a mere two policemen were posted for duty,” to try and stop the huge number of protesters who were attacking shop owners who attempted to open their shops.

“Senior officers, who need a vehicle full of policemen when it comes to their own security, posted a mere two policemen to prevent rioting at Valiyangadi,” he commented.

Vallikkunnu further asked, “Isn’t the district police chief responsible for the feeling of insecurity created among the people of Kozhikode who witnessed violent mobs marching along the streets of Kozhikode smashing and setting fire to things in their way?”

He concluded by writing, “You may wonder why these things should be said in public, will this not attract penal action from the department, and can’t this told directly within the department. But tell whom, and who will listen?”

Vallikkunnu’s post found sympathisers, with one saying ‘Salute you, Sir,” and another saying, “If the king is nude, it must be said.”

Local media in Kerala has speculated that there has been a psychological divide within the police force over the state government’s decision to assist women seeking to worship at the Sabarimala temple.

India’s Supreme Court ruled in September 2018 that the practice at Sabarimala of preventing girls and women of “a menstruating age” from worshipping at the temple violated the principles of gender justice enshrined in the national constitution.

However, traditionalists have been blocking all attempts by young women to pray at the temple even after the court ruling.

The state government has taken the stance that it is the government’s duty to implement the court’s decision, as well as maintain law and order.