DGP reviews security measures in Kovai, Collector convenes peace meet

The meeting was held separately with representatives of Muslim organizations on Tuesday night and with Hindu outfits on Wednesday morning. City Police Commissioner Sumit Sharan, Deputy Commissioner (Law & Order) Balaji Saravanan and officials of the revenue department participated in the meeting.

Soon after the meeting, District Collector Rajamani said that representatives of both the communities have been asked to co-operate in the maintenance of law and order to ensure peace. “Members of both the communities have pledged their support to maintain law and order. They also agreed to our request not to act independently in case of any trouble and were insisted to approach police to maintain peace and harmony,” said Rajamani. He added, “Also the demands of both the communities were taken note of to be redressed, whichever is possible by the district administration.”

Meanwhile, DGP JK Tripathy held a meeting with ADGP’s K Jayanth Murali and Shankar Jiwal, Coimbatore City Police Commissioner Sumit Sharan and West Zone IG K Periaiah on issues pertaining to communal attacks.

The district has been brought under police vigil with more than 2000 police including TN Special Task Force and cops roped in from neighbouring Salem, Erode, Namakkal and other districts deployed in sensitive areas to prevent any untoward incidents.

Similarly, Vetri Selvan, Assistant Commissioner of Special Intelligence Unit has been shunted out and was kept on waiting list following accusations of intelligence failure by police leading to incidents triggering communal tension. In his place, Assistant Commissioner-Central (crime) Chandrasekaran has taken charge.

On Monday night, a petrol bomb was hurled on the Hindu Munnani party office and SDPI functionary was attacked by unidentified persons later in the day. Police are yet to make any arrest in both the cases. Besides, a few autos and vehicles of both community members were targeted in some sporadic incidents of communal nature.