Pooram ruckus: After big protest, govt transfers Thrissur police commissioner

THRISSUR: The government on Monday decided to replace Thrissur Police Commissioner Ankit Asokan for his alleged role in the ruckus that took place in Thrissur Pooram earlier this year. R Ilango will be made the new commissioner of the district. As of now, Ankit has not been assigned to any other department.

It was unprecedented in Thrissur for pooram to get disrupted. The procession of Thiruvambady was delayed while the firework display was delayed till the next day after the Pooram. The police had also blocked people near the Swaraj round in Thrissur disrupting the revered procession and also inviting the wrath of devotees. It was only at the influence and intervention of political leaders that the firework was allowed the next morning.

After the incident, there was widespread condemnation of the police commissioner’s conduct. The election commission failed to remove the police commissioner even after receiving an application, due to the election code of conduct. The whole incident proved to be a setback for the government while Suresh Gopi’s intervention was also much discussed.