Phone calls during last year’s Pooram chaos were ignored by ADGP, alleges Minister

Thrissur

Revenue Minister K. Rajan has given a statement against Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) M.R. Ajith Kumar in connection with the controversy over the last edition of the Thrissur Pooram. According to the Minister, despite multiple phone calls after the event’s disruption, Mr. Ajith Kumar did not respond. The Minister alleged that despite warnings about troubles during the Pooram, the ADGP failed to intervene.

He said that Mr. Ajith Kumar was present in Thrissur from the morning of the Pooram day, yet the police response was found wanting. He called it a clear failure on the part of the police. The Minister made these remarks to the inquiry team appointed by the Director General of Police (DGP) to investigate the lapses during the last edition of Thrissur Pooram.

Despite attempts to reach the officer on both his official and personal phone numbers, there was no response, Mr. Rajan said in his statement. Even after being informed that the conduct of the festival was being disrupted, Mr. Ajith Kumar made no effort to rectify the situation, he said. Mr. Ajith Kumar’s statement will be recorded by the inquiry team next week.

However, Mr. Rajan said there was no need to turn the matter into a controversy. He added that the current focus was to conduct this edition of Pooram without any issues.