THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Intelligence has received information that four top police officers, including the ADGP, held a secret meeting at the Thrissur Police Academy six days before Thrissur Pooram. The intelligence wing has recommended to the government to investigate whether this has anything to do with the Pooram disruption. This comes after ADGP M R Ajith Kumar submitted an inquiry report in connection with the Thrissur Pooram disruption.
Apart from the ADGP, the meeting was convened by the IG, DIG and police commissioner. They held a secret meeting for eight hours, delaying by five hours the meeting of police officers convened to explain the security arrangements in view of Pooram and the prime minister's arrival. It was at this meeting that the ADGP proposed a change, rejecting the security scheme prepared by the commissioner.
A meeting of police officers was scheduled to be held on April 13 at 2 pm. However, they, who were in Thrissur city, reached the police academy eight kilometres away at 10.30 am and held a secret meeting in the DIG's room. The then commissioner Ankit Ashokan introduced a scheme to rectify the security lapses at Pooram. However, the ADGP directed the commissioner to obey as he said.
It is alleged that this is what led to lapses including erecting more barricades to control the people, delaying fireworks and preventing feeding of elephants. When DYSP rank officers, who got years of experience in conducting pooram, expressed dissatisfaction with the arrangements, the commissioner replied that it was a suggestion from above.
ADGP in Thrissur three days ahead of Pooram