The city police has asked the organizers of the Gala de Fort Kochi Club, who installed an almost 50-feet tall pappanji (giant effigy of an old man) at Fort Kochi’s Veli Maidan, to remove the effigy, citing safety and security. worry
This decision has brought cold rain to the organizers who are busy preparing for Christmas and New Year in the region.
After pointing out that sufficient number of police could not be deployed at Veli Maidan on New Year’s Eve, Assistant Commissioner of Police Mattancherry issued a notice to the organizers to remove the effigy the next day.
A large number of police will have to be deployed at the parade ground for the annual event of effigy burning on December 31 at midnight. On that day, a large number of visitors, including foreign tourists, thronged the field. The police officer said that about 1000 policemen will be mobilized to maintain peace and security and provide adequate protection to the visitors.
During the cremation of the effigy at Veli Maidan, which is about two kilometers away from the parade ground, there is a possibility of a large rope falling, so the security is at risk. It would be impossible for the police to take crowd management measures and provide security cover at two places simultaneously, the letter said.
Police officials have also raised security concerns about the practice of throwing effigies in nearby places to burn them at night. It is mentioned in the letter issued by the police that if the statue is not removed, some miscreants may set it on fire.
The police also said that permission was not given to burn the effigy last year due to security reasons.
Reacting to the development, Benedict Fernandez, Councilor of Kochi Corporation and one of the main organizers of the event, said that discussions are on with the authorities to resolve the issue.
The tradition of burning effigies in Veli Maidan is a few decades old. He said that this is an integral part of the cultural identity of the region.
published – December 22, 2024 at 04:38 PM IST