THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Police Department is gearing up to face stiff resistance from the Vilappilsala community as the Mayor has publicly announced the Corporation’s intentions to transport garbage-laden waste vehicles to the Vilappilsala treatment plant.
It is learnt that the State Special Branch is known to have collected the ground strength of the agitating Janakeeya Samara Samithi. A senior Special Branch officer said that the Samithi had set up 108 units in the vicinity of the plant. Each of the units can mobilise at least 100 people a time. "Children and women are expected to lead the protest,’’ he said.
Nedumangad DySP Muhammed Shafi made it clear that the police would be forced to act if the public oppose the movement of the waste-laden vehicles to the plant. He said that obstructing the movement of waste would be a violation of the High Court order directing the Police Department to provide security to the waste-carrying vehicles.
"We haven’t received any orders or instructions regarding opening of the plant. Containing the public unrest at any point is a a headache. But we have to do that since it is a Court order,” he said.
The Police Department is seriously considering how to mobilise a big force if any untoward incident happens. Police personnel would be drawn from various stations in the district as well from other battalions, if the situation demands.
But the shortage of police personnel is expected to provide a tough time for the top officers.
Several police officers and personnel have been sent to North India for election duty. But the DySP brushed aside these apprehensions and said that the mobilisation would be completed within two hours after being alerted.