Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Pics: Daya Kukkaje

Mangaluru, Feb 26: When Kerala chief minister (CM) Pinarayi Vijayan arrived in the city on Saturday February 25 to take part in CPi(M) Sauharda rally and other programmes organized here, there were claims and counter claims over providing security escort to him.

Vijayan arrived at the central railway station here by Malbar Express train at around 10.35 am. He was received by CPi(M) state level leaders like Srirama Reddy, G N Nagaraj, J Balakrishna Shetty etc with the party flags and red salute. Karnataka additional deputy general of police Alok Mohan, city police commissioner S Chandra Sekhar, Chikkamagaluru superintendent of police Annamalai and several senior police officers personally supervised security arrangements at the railway station on this occasion.

There was some drama at the railway station as police departments of the two states vied with each other in the matter of providing escort to the visiting CM. When Pinarayi Vijayan started to leave the station in the bullet proof car provided to him, Karnataka police escort vehicle began to move with his vehicle. Kerala police objected to it, and insisted that it was their prerogative to escort the CM. But Karnataka police, citing protocol,insisted in accompanying the CM in escort vehicle. 

Thereafter, escort vehicles of police forces from both the states moved with the car of the CM. Vijayan took rest for sometime at Hotel Gateway where he was taken to, before proceeding to participate in a private function.