Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Thursday cautioned against alleged attempts by some people with vested interests to create "communal divide" in the state police force, even as BJP and various Hindu outfits decided to intensify protests against the left government on the Sabarimala women entry issue.
Addressing police personnel at a function here to mark the formation day of state police, he said certain people were trying to attack and isolate efficient officials in the force in the name of religion and caste.
Vijayan was apparently referring to the cyber attack against senior IPS officers, Manoj Abraham and S Sreejith, who had coordinated security arrangements in and around Sabarimala as part of implementing the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry of women of all ages into the Lord Ayyappa Temple.
"Certain people with vested interests are trying to create communal divide in the police force. The government is viewing such attempts with utmost seriousness and will take stringent action against such trends," Vijayan said.
According to police, cases have been registered against 13 people who were allegedly involved in the cyber attack against Abraham.
BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan was recently booked for allegedly using abusive language against Abraham while addressing party workers as part of the stir against the government's decision to implement the apex court verdict.
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Meanwhile, BJP and various Hindu outfits Thursday decided to intensify protests against the left government's move to implement the supreme court order permitting women of all age groups into the hill shrine.
BJP alleged the CPI(M), armed with the verdict, was trying to persuade its women cadres to visit the shrine to break its centuries' old customs when the temple doors open for the pilgrimage season commencing this month.
BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai alleged that the LDF government was trying to destroy the Sabarimala temple, "by falsely propagating that it has turned into a centre of conflict post the verdict.
Atheists have declared a war against devotees of Lord Ayyappa," he said after the BJP's leadership meet in Kochi.
Accusing the state government of trying to "destroy the uniqueness" of the shrine where customs prevent women in the age group of 10 and 50 from offering prayers, Pillai said BJP workers would take a "re-dedication pledge" in all assembly constituencies Friday to protect the traditions of the temple and 'Save Sabarimala.'