Public woes as police beef up security for CM

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 13, (BPNS) 

With the police imposing unprecedented restrictions in the name of security for chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, great distress is being caused to the public.

In the latest, a father got intimidated by police personnel when he tried to park his car near a pharmacy to buy medicine for his child having a fever. The incident was reported at Mattoor, Kalady in Ernakulam on Sunday. A police officer present on the spot had even threatened to shut the pharmacy as its owner tried to question his actions.

Meanwhile, the Pala First Class Judicial Magistrate Court has sought a report from the police on overspeeding and dangerous driving by the pilot vehicle of CM’s convoy.

In the case of the incident on Sunday, the video of the altercation between the police officer, a man, and the medical shop owner has become viral.

“My child had a high fever. That’s why I parked my car near the pharmacy. Then a police officer came towards the car and rudely asked to park somewhere else. 

Though I tried to explain the situation he paid no heed. Then I parked my car at a spot that was some distance away from the medical shop,” said the man.

He further added, “I had to take my child along with me and we had to walk some distance to buy the medicine. But as we were on our way toward the car, the police officer without any reason started berating us. As the shop owner came to our rescue he was also threatened.”

The medical shop owner later told the media that he had sent a complaint against the officer to the CM himself and the police higher-ups.

‘Don’t you think normal people also have to travel?’

The Pala First Class Judicial Magistrate Court had sought a report from Kuruvilangadu SHO Nirmal Muhasin regarding the dangerous driving of CM’s pilot vehicle. The report will have to be submitted by February 17. It is learned that the magistrate was displeased over the way the convoy is traveling often at high speeds.

‘CM scared’

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan alleged that the CM is scared and thus has directed the police for unprecedented restrictions.

“He (CM) had said that the Congress knew only of hunger strikes. If that’s the case, why is he so scared of the Congress activists? Those who are protesting peacefully and those who are participating in family functions or party programmes are being put under precautionary arrest. The CM was scared of the black color and now he is terrified of the white also,” said Satheesan.