KANNUR: The month-long efforts of the police and the district administration paid off as the Shobha Yatra processions of the BJP and its outfits as well as the CPM's Vargeeya Virudha Pracharana Jatha ended without tensions. The police had envisioned the marches in such a way that both would not cross the same points at the same time, said district police chief G. Siva Vikram.
“Extra efforts were made this time at the levels of SI, CI and the DySP, coordinating with local leaders for the smooth processions. Apart from the entire force in the district, four additional companies deployed for the day were out on streets," he said. “Sensitive areas including Payyanur town, Nayanar Road and Kuthuparamba were marked and extra forces deployed. Requests for permission to hold nearly 400 processions were received. Though the BJP backed off in the initial talks, all agreed to the peaceful conduct of the processions later.” BJP spokesperson P. Raghunath criticised the CPM for carrying out processions on the Sree Krishna Jayanthi.
