Date:20/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/20/stories/2008042050350100.htm

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Prohibitory orders relaxed in Kasaragod

Staff Reporter

Police given powers to shoot those who indulge in violence, says Minister

KASARAGOD: Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said here on Saturday that the police were given powers to shoot those who indulged in violence in the district. Director General of State Police Raman Srivastava would oversee the actions being taken by the police to prevent recurrence of violence.

Speaking to presspersons after presiding over an all-party peace meet, the Minister said the parties promised to cooperate with the efforts of the government to bring back peace in the district. The prohibitory orders clamped on the town were relaxed from 4 p.m. to 7.p.m. to enable people purchase essential commodities.

If peace continued to prevail, the District Collector was asked to take steps to review the prohibitory orders.

Police deployment

He said additional DGP K.S. Jang Pangi, Inspector General V. Santharam, four Superintendents of Police from outside the district, nine Dy.SPs, eight Circle Inspectors, 20 Sub-Inspectors, and 1,000 policemen were deployed in the district. Top officers of the State police were given charge of different localities in the district. As per the decisions of the all-party meet, a peace rally was held in the evening. The rally began from New Bus Stand premises and covered different parts of the town.

Earlier, the Home Minister visited the homes of all four persons who were killed in the recent violence. He was accompanied by top police officers and representatives of people.