Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala's director-general of police T.P. Senkumar ignited a controversy by stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit onthe Puttingal temple tragedy day was untimely as it raised security concerns and affected rescue and relief activities.
Mr Senkumar had even advised those in-charge of VVIP security that it would be ideal to postpone the visit of the Prime Minister and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi by at least a day. However, since the Prime Minister had already decided to fly down, no change could be made.
Ensuring that no unexploded explosives were remaining in the tragedy site, providing security cover to the VVIP along their route and evicting large number of people who thronged at the mishap site were the major challenges for the police, amidst rescue and relief operations.
"What would have been the position of the state police if someone threw a stone at the Prime Minister at the spot?" asked a senior police officer. "Even though the PM maintained that no protocols need to be followed, the police was bound to ensure VVIP security. Though all victims were rushed to hospitals by Sunday morning itself, police was involved in carrying out inquest of the bodies," the officer pointed out.
However, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and the state's home minister Ramesh Chennithala maintained that the visit by the Prime Minister and other VVIPs to the mishap site need not be criticised as it helped in ensuring proper relief to the victims.
