THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: City Police Commissioner CH Nagaraju has submitted a report to DGP Sheikh Darvesh Sahib, admitting a lapse from the police side in preventing the SFI protesters from reaching the Governor's vehicle. Meanwhile, the commissioner did not recommend any action against the policemen who were on duty at that time.

From the report:

No failure happened in escorting the governor out safely from the commotion. However, the pilot vehicle had to stop for 5 seconds when the SFI workers ambushed the governor's cavalcade from the road in front of Palayam University Library. The move to stop the vehicle was not deliberate. The protest took place in unexpected locations and all of them were arrested immediately.

The five protesters jumped from behind the vehicles parked near the hotel on the library premises. The pilot vehicle thus had to stop as two protesters who ran from Ashan Square jumped in front of the vehicle. Seeing the governor's vehicle stop, more protesters joined to create a ruckus.

Taking a cue from the intelligence warning, the security of the governor was increased. The convoy additionally included an advance pilot, an escort and rapid response vehicles. The protestors were removed by the police who arrived in Pettah in a quick response vehicle. Striker forces were also deployed at four places where the protestors gathered. According to the commissioner's report, the police's calculations went awry because the protesters mixed with the people and jumped into action suddenly.

The commissioner explained that the non-imposition of section 124 of the IPC, which carries a 7-year jail term for obstructing the governor's official duties, was not intentional. The police cannot voluntarily impose this section in the FIR.