Kerala High Court seeks State response to plea alleging use of excessive force by police during Thrissur Pooram

A petition has been filed before the Kerala High Court against the alleged use of police force during temple festivals [P Sudhakaran v. State of Kerala & Ors.]..A division bench of Justices VG Arun and S Manu on Tuesday directed the State attorney to get instructions on the matter..The petition filed by Thrissur native and State office bearer of Hindu Aikya Vedi, P Sudhakaran, alleged that police officers used excessive force to control crowds and artists who were at the recent Thrissur Pooram temple festival. Sudhakaran claimed that the Thrissur District Police Chief, Ankit Asokan, imposed illegal restrictions to obstruct the procession, religious rituals and customs associated with Thrissur pooram, thereby willfully disrupting the centuries old religious. He claimed that the police manhandled one of the persons holding the ‘kuthuvilakku’ (lamp) in front of the procession. "The police has the bounden duty to ensure the protection of the rights of citizens, which includes he freedoms guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution of India. However, the District Police Chief, Thrissur, Sri. Ankit Asokan had exceeded his jurisdiction and misused his powers to wreak havoc and to disrupt and obstruct the centuries old traditions and customs of the temple by stopping the idol bearing elephant procession, beat up the lamp bearer of elephant procession, deny entry to the chief priest of Vadakkumnathan temple, and to use footwears inside the temple premises, in total disregard to the religious freedoms under Part III of the Constitution and the specific directions of this Hon’ble Court (sic)," the plea said. Claiming that the District Police Chief had already faced disciplinary action last year, Sudhakaran said there should be an investigation by the Principal District Judge of Thrissur into the officer's actions which allegedly disrupted this year's Thrissur Pooram. He further sought directions to the State government and other appropriate authorities to sanction and initiate prosecution against the police officers responsible for the mishaps that occurred during the festival this year. .Sudhakaran further contended that this incident was a state sponsored act of religious prosecution against the Hindu community. He, therefore, sought a declaration that the interference of the State government in the administration of temples by the use of police force thereby obstructing its traditions are violative of constitutionally guaranteed religious freedoms.Such incidents of police excess have happened in other temple festivals as well, Sudhakaran alleged.Therefore, there should be guidelines to regulate and control the use of force by the police during temple festivals, he submitted..The matter will be considered next on May 22. .The petitioner was represented by advocates V Sajith Kumar, Vivek AV, Sreehari VS, Ammu M, and Sherin Davis.