Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram   

Hartal: DGP sends notice to LDF convener

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM March 5. The Director General of Police, K.J. Joseph, has issued a notice to the Left Democratic Front (LDF) convener, Paloli Mohammedkutty, asking him to ensure that the hartal call given by the LDF on March 11 will not be implemented in a coercive manner that impinges on the civil liberties of citizens and causes the disruption of law and order in the State.

In the notice, the DGP pointed out that the hartal could cause disruption of normal life and ``bring irreparable damage to the interests of students appearing for final examinations in the CBSE''.

The DGP said he was convinced on the basis of reliable material available to him that the March 11 hartal call given by the LDF was ``likely to cause serious dislocation of peace and tranquillity in the State''.

With special reference to laws and High Court rulings on bandhs and hartals, the DGP pointed out that he was duty bound to prevent any such disturbance to public life and law and order, and hence the notice.

The DGP has directed the LDF convener to ensure that no students appearing in the CBSE and ICSE examinations are prevented or obstructed from presenting themselves at the centres for such examinations.

The DGP has asked Mr. Mohammedkutty to ensure that no form of intimidation, coercion, force (mental or physical) is used to implement the hartal. The right of freedom of movement to conduct daily business or work of the general public should not be disrupted or curtailed in any manner because of the hartal.

Vehicular and pedestrian movement should not be disrupted or obstructed in any manner. Public or private property should not be damaged or destroyed in the conduct of the hartal or by the acts of those participating in it.

There should be no obstruction of emergency services such as police, Fire Force, ambulance, etc. It should be ensured that there is no damage to vital installations of electricity, telephone and water supply.

Those who have called the hartal should also ensure that there is no provocation or exhortation by those participating in it to disrupt the peace or cause law and order disturbance in the State.

The functioning of courts is not to be disturbed or obstructed by any act including shouting of slogans on the premises of courts or impeding judicial officers, lawyers, litigants and witnesses from being present in the courts.

The DGP said it was his duty to perform all acts within his legal powers to prevent any disturbance to the peace on March 11. Mr. Joseph said those who act in violation of the laws and fail to adhere to the notice would be liable to face all consequences in accordance with the law.

The DGP has issued the notice in exercise of the powers vested in him under the Police Act.

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