The public across Kerala is bearing the brunt of the heightened security being extended to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the wake of recent protests, including the waving of black flags, by the Opposition parties.
And in some cases, it amounts to a violation of basic human rights, like the cops recently taking a man into preventive custody, leaving him with no means to take his mother for a cancer examination.
No permission to buy medicine! (Mattoor, Ernakulam)
Police on Monday allegedly threatened Kottayam native S Sarath as he was out to buy medicines for his baby at Mattoor, near Kalady.
A police officer instructed him to not park his car along the stretch which had been blocked for the chief minister's convoy to pass. However, when the medical shop's owner questioned this, the police threatened to shut down his establishment.
Sarath said he has submitted a complaint to the chief minister and higher police officials. The incident happened as he was on his way back with his baby after dropping his wife at the airport. He stopped at the medical shop at Mattoor as the child had high fever.
According to the shop owner M C Mathai, a Sub-Inspector came almost immediately and ordered to move the car from there. "So, the man parked his car in another spot and came back to the shop with the baby. However, as they were returning, the SI barged in again," said Mathai.
When asked if the officer couldn't see the baby was feverish, the SI retorted, "Don't try to show off." The shop owner who objected was threatened that his shop would be shut down. However, the shop owner dared the officer to do so.
The other day, police had ordered the Youth Congress to call off its meeting that was being held at a hall in Perumbavoor as the CM's convoy was expected en route. The Youth Congress activists who protested were arrested under non-bailable sections.
Schoolchildren stuck midway (Mannuthy, Thrissur)
Travel restrictions were in place in the vicinity of 'Ramanilayam' in Thrissur town where the chief minister, who had arrived yesterday to inaugurate the meeting of milk farmers, stayed for the night. The restrictions that were in force on Tuesday morning, meanwhile, prevented schoolchildren from reaching their school on time. Adding to the chaos, the milk farmers took out a procession too.
Cancer patient stranded (Mudappallur, Palakkad)
Twenty-two Youth Congress leaders were placed under preventive custody before the arrival of the chief minister in Palakkad. In Mudappallur, the police took one person into custody from his home while he was getting ready to take his mother, a cancer patient, to a hospital in Kochi for treatment. The police did not back down even after repeated pleas. Delay in his release, led to the cancellation of the hospital booking.