Thiruvananthapuram: The police inaction against the violent mob at Nilakkal and Pampa till Wednesday evening has invited widespread resentment within the police itself.
The police made the right move initially by dismantling the pandal of protesters at Nilakkal but they should not have allowed protesters to re-erect the pandal. Attempts of protesters to regroup should have been also avoided.
There were allegations that a message from the political leadership to avoid a major police action at Sabarimala led to the utmost restraint by the police. "The highest officer in the field should be given a free hand to take the necessary action in such situations instead of applying remote-control," a senior officer said.
Since the police and government had earlier announced that they would implement the SC order, they should have ensured it as well. The police should have used at least some force when women journalists were attacked by violent mobs.
The police should have even imposed picketing much ahead of Nilakkal, even from Pathanamthi-tta. Though it is difficult to distinguish between pilgrims and protesters, at least some of the hardcore elements could have been kept in preventive custody.
