'Love and respect'; Dissent growing within police over Manoli Kavu festival ruckus

THALASSERY: The dissent among police officials was palpable during the farewell function organized for the transferred SIs who registered a case against CPM workers in the Manoli Kavu festival ruckus in Thalassery.

The dissent was made public in the note written on the gift presented to transferred SIs TK Akhil and V.V. Deepthi.

The gifts given to both of them read "Love and respect to those who gave strength in the fight for resistance."

On February 20, the police intervened in a clash between BJP and CPM workers at Manoli Kavu in Thalassery. CPM activists blocked the police who arrived to control the violence.

“We are now ruling Kerala. Not even a single police officer will exist in the station” This was the threatening from CPM workers. Police reacted by registering an FIR against them.

One of the CPM activists involved in the clash was taken into custody by the police who arrived at Manoli Kavu the next day. CPM workers locked the gate from outside and freed him from the police vehicle by force.

SI Deepthi was transferred to Kannur Town Police Station and Akhil to Kolavallur while the investigation was ongoing against 82 people, including the CPM local secretary. The CPM leadership alleged that the problems were caused by unnecessary police intervention during the festival.