TIRUNELVELI
Following the deaths of four members of a family due to usury on the Collectorate premises here on last Monday, police allowed the petitioners inside the Collectorate for the weekly grievance redressal meet only after thorough frisking.
After P. Esakkimuthu of Kasidharmam village in the district, who alleged harassment by a woman usurer, set on fire his wife and two daughters before immolating himself in front of the District Development Council Hall, Collector Sandeep Nanduri chaired a special review meeting on strengthening security arrangements on the Collectorate premises having nine entry points.
Subsequently, additional policemen were deployed on the campus with fire-fighting equipment and even a mini fire tender was stationed there to thwart any untoward incident, as the weekly grievance day meet would attract a few hundred petitioners. Moreover, an ambulance was also kept ready.
When the public and government employees came to the Collectorate on Monday, they were allowed inside only after thorough frisking. Inflammable article, matchboxes and tobacco products carried by a few were seized. Government employees were allowed inside after they produced their identity cards.
Seven of the nine entries that had been used by the public and the officials to enter the premises were closed. Only the main entrance being used by the Collector and top officials and the access near the treasury and Women’s Sub-Jail were kept open.
“Since the unregulated entry into the Collectorate actually led to this unfortunate incident, additional entry points are closed. The public and the government employees are being allowed inside only after frisking. It will continue in the days to come,” said a police officer deployed at the Collectorate.