BENGALURU: Even though the Kiss of Love protest missed its date with the city, police deployed extra security around Town Hall to prevent any untoward incidents. The event, which was to be held at 4 pm on Sunday, was cancelled a day before by the organisers.
Police deployed around 50 policemen under the supervision of DCP (Central) Sandeep Patil at the venue.
“The policemen were deployed as a preventive measure to ensure there is no law and order problem. Since the event was postponed at the last moment, there was a possibility that many participants and protestors would not know about the late development and turn up for the event,” said DCP (Central) Sandeep Patil.
Barricades were put up in the morning and removed late in the evening.
“I, along with two ACPs, one woman officer and other policemen, were present at the venue from 3 pm to 6 pm,” he said.
The organisers on Saturday had informed Police Commissioner M N Reddi of their plans to cancel the event and submitted a set of rebuttals.
The letter submitted by them stated, “We are giving you this in reply to the letter issued to us, to clarify certain aspects and questions raised in the same.”
It went on to state that the protest had been shrouded in misconceptions, with many concentrating on the word ‘kiss’ rather than the objective of the protest itself. With those against the protest and the police calling the event ‘obscene’ and hence illegal, the organisers submitted legal precedents supporting their cause.
“In a leading judgment in a case where a young couple was arrested for displaying their affection in public and charged with obscenity, the Delhi High Court had struck down the charges observing that it was inconceivable how the expression of love would attract the offence of “obscenity” and trigger the coercive process of the law....,” the letter stated.
The organisers also brought to the police’s attention all the threats they have received by those against the protest. The protest will be rescheduled after further discussions with the police.