Thiruvananthapuram: Fresh evidence has emerged that the state intelligence had sent out an alert to law-enforcing agencies on the possibility of violent protests in Sabarimala over the Supreme Court verdict permitting women of all ages to enter the temple, but the authorities concerned totally failed to act on the warnings.
The police did not show enough seriousness to step up vigil or deploy adequate personnel to deal with the situation. The lack of coordination was evident on Friday when two women devotees were being escorted by the police to proceed to the hillock, but were forced to return to Pamba amid protests. The police also pleaded helplessness when another woman sought their protection to enter the temple later in the day.
The Kerala government had maintained from the beginning that it was committed to implementing the Supreme Court verdict lifting the restrictions on entry of women to Sabarimala. Moreover, instructions had specifically been issued to the top brass of the state police to make stringent security arrangements to enable women to go to the temple.
However, the government totally failed to comprehend the metastasising nature of the protests. To make matters worse, the state administration did not bother to discuss the issue with key stakeholders at Sabarimala. The government found itself on the back foot when priests threatened to stop rituals and prayers and shut down the temple.
The state intelligence had warned that a group of religious fanatics were planning to create chaos and terror at Sabarimala under the guise of stopping women devotees and the protests could lead to a protracted communal violence and riot.
The reports, submitted to the government over the past few days, also stated that if the police used force on protesters along the narrow traditional trekking route, it could result in a mass disaster.
The intelligence had also handed over a list containing names of people who were planning organised mob violence at the hill shrine. The police had analysed mobile phone calls and WhatsApp messages made/received by the suspected persons.
However, the department heads failed to deploy adequate number of personnel at Nilakkal, the main base camp, and Sannidhanam to stymie any attempt to turn the religiously sensitive localities into hotspots for political protests. More squads, including teams led by IGs, were deployed only after women journalists were attacked by the protesters.
Probe into video leak
Following reports that the visuals of the police action on the agitators at Nilakkal were leaked to the protesting parties by some of the cops, Intelligence ADGP T K Vinod Kumar has ordered a probe into the matter. The visuals of police lathi-charging the mob and attacking motorbikes of the protesters are currently being widely circulated via WhatsApp by certain organisations.
Notably, these footages were captured from the spots where only police officials were present.
Moreover, the Intelligence has pointed out that the discussions supporting and opposing the police action in Sabarimala in WhatsApp groups of police personnel are against the spirit of the force.
