No protests, no celebrations: Ernakulam collector

KOCHI: The Ernakulam district collector has banned people from staging protests as well as victory marches in connection with the Supreme Court’s verdict in the sensitive Ayodhya case.


The district collector said a law and order issue could not be ruled out taking into consideration the sensitive nature of the verdict.

In a statement, he said if members of communities or groups or associations conduct victory processions, protest marches, demonstrations, or distribute sweets or indulge in any other form of celebration or protests, it may lead to deterioration of the law and order situation in the district.

In order to ensure the safety and security of public and property, police have been directed “to take precautionary measures to prevent the concerned from conducting such activities for the sake of communal harmony and peace in the district.”

The district administration said that the leaves granted to all executive magistrates, ¸sub-collectors, additional deputy magistrates, deputy collectors and tahsildars have been cancelled and that they have to remain on duty during the weekend. The sub-collector is responsible for Kochi taluk while the RDO, Muvattupuzha is in-charge of Muvattupuzha taluk.

Meanwhile, police said around 3,000 police personnel have been deployed for handling the situation. They have identified potential trouble makers who might cause violence and also sensitive localities. People who have influence on both communities have been notified for maintaining peace after the aftermath of the judgement.