KOTTAYAM: The increase in the security of the Chief Minister following the allegations levelled by Swapna Suresh has turned out to be a headache for the people. Strict restrictions were imposed in the region with the arrival of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to attend the Kerala Gazetted Officers Association (KGOA) conference in Kottayam.

Protests against the Chief Minister continued despite massive security deployments. Police have arrested two BJP activists for waving black flags. Strict restrictions have also been imposed on journalists.

Those taking part in the conference were instructed to enter the hall one hour earlier. Journalists arriving for the event were asked to produce a pass. People standing in front of the Nattakom guest house were prohibited from wearing black-coloured masks. It is alleged that the police had asked people to remove their black masks.

Police stopped a family that was returning home after a baptism ceremony in the city. The family said that the police told them to go after an hour. The public clashed with the police in many places.

The delegates' meeting was scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. in connection with the KGOA State Conference. The meeting was preponed to 10.30 am following the protests. Arrangements for this started at 8.30 am near the city. This made things extremely difficult for students and the general public alike to travel to schools and offices in the city.

Central IG Harshitha Attaluri is overseeing security in Kottayam. Inaugurating the program, the Chief Minister said that the country was going through a lot of hardships today and the unity of the people was important in the country.