Thrissur pooram disruption: Chief Minister's speech and registration of case on same day

THRISSUR: It has come to light that the Thrissur East police registered a case on conspiracy charges only after the Chief Minister clarified that the pooram was not disrupted and only the fireworks were delayed. With the controversy, the chief minister changed his stand that there was an 'attempt' to disrupt the pooram. The Chief Minister's Office issued a clarification note in the evening clarifying this.

CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam, who had openly said that not only was the pooram disrupted but some people did not allow the pooram to be conducted as it should have been, had rejected the chief minister. On Saturday evening at 4 pm, the Chief Minister made a speech in Kozhikode that pooram was not disrupted. The FIR was registered at 7.30 pm that same night.

The chief minister's office said in a clarification note that the government has been of the view from the beginning that there was an 'attempt' to disrupt pooram. It also hinted that the case proceedings were part of this. According to the FIR, there was a conspiracy to hurt the religious sentiments and beliefs of a section by disrupting the Pooram, which is celebrated irrespective of caste and creed.

The case has been registered under sections 295A, 120B and 153 of the IPC for conspiracy, obstructing religious celebration and attempting to cause enmity. No one has been named as an accused.

This is the first case related to the disruption of pooram. The case was registered with Inspector Chittaranjan, an officer of the Special Investigation Team, as the complainant amid allegations that the investigation had stopped. However, the investigation team has not collected information from Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi devaswoms.

A three-tier probe into the disruption of the pooram was announced on the 3rd of this month. A special investigation team was also formed. However, the proceedings did not go ahead. Former ADGP MR Ajith Kumar had submitted a report that put the Thiruvambady Devaswom in doubt. The DGP gave a report pointing out the lapses of the ADGP. The crime branch had received legal advice that a case cannot be registered on the report of the ADGP.

Case investigated on charges of 'attempt' to disrupt pooram

1. The chief minister's office explained that the government had made it clear in the cabinet decision regarding the probe and in the assembly that there were attempts to disrupt pooram.
2. If anyone at the official level has committed an offence or showed negligence, he will be brought before the law and given the punishment he deserves.
3. All interventions related to pooram celebrations will be examined. Efforts are being made to conduct pooram in a flawless manner in the coming years.
4. The opposition is carrying out exaggerated propaganda as if the pooram is completely disrupted. It is a fact that some issues have happened in connection with this year's Pooram, the explanatory note said.