KOZHIKODE: While opposition activists are being placed in preventive detention in view of the possibility of black flag protests, a controversy erupted after students were banned from wearing black clothes and masks in an event attended by the Chief Minister in Kozhikode. The restrictions were imposed in a programme attended by the chief minister at Government Arts and Science College in Meenchanda, Kozhikode. The college authorities also landed in controversy after they gave prior instructions to the students regarding the ban on black clothes.

Two students wearing black masks were asked to remove the mask. The police questioned the students who arrived wearing black t-shirts. Meanwhile, KSU Kozhikode district vice president VT Sooraj and Elathur block president MP Ragin, who came near the guest house with a black flag, were placed under preventive detention. The Chief Minister travelled to the conference on this route. The bags of those who came to the conference and the media workers were seized by the police until the Chief Minister left. This led to an altercation with the police.

There was tight security in the city and the college premises. 212 policemen were deployed under the leadership of DCP KE Baiju. The Chief Minister came from Kannur. The inauguration ceremony attended by the Chief Minister and ministers was at 10 am. The city was under police cordon since 8 am. The people suffered as traffic restrictions were imposed on various major roads in the city. The situation returned to normal when the Chief Minister left at half past eleven.

Separate room for checking women

The police had arranged a special room to check the women. No one was allowed inside with the bag. Only channel and newspaper photographers were allowed to enter with the bag. Even the cameras and battery were checked. Journalists who came with the identity card of the press club were also stopped. The police said that journalists were required to wear the identity card issued by their respective establishments.