No ban on black masks, says CM's office; police gives blue masks to those wearing black masks in Kochi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An explanation is given from the CM's office saying that those wearing black masks were not barred from attending events attended by the CM. The response came after the media reports that the police in Kochi had banned the journalists wearing black masks.

The police did not stop journalists wearing black masks at the event in Kochi, but instead distributed blue surgical masks to them. The masks were distributed by the police at a function held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kaloor.

Meanwhile, police took into custody two transgender people who approached the Kaloor metro station wearing black dresses. They were forcibly dragged and taken into police custody. Security has been beefed up around the guest house where the Chief Minister is resting after his journey from Kottayam. A police force, under the leadership of Ernakulam DCP, has been deployed here.

The police have been directly controlling the traffic on all the roads through which the CM passes. Traffic is completely banned in many places.