As the recent killing of 13 people in police firing in Thoothukudi triggered a controversy, the district administration and the police have conducted a mock drill to sensitise the revenue and police officials to the protocols to be followed before using force or opening fire when protesters turned violent.
“There are well-laid down protocols to be followed to disperse mobs, protesters and demonstrators, especially when they turned violent, and the police should resort to firing only as the last resort, if warnings, lathicharge and firing of rubber bullets failed to yield the desired results,” Collector S. Natarajan said.
Addressing the revenue and police officials at the anti-riot mock drill, organised by the police at the Armed Reserve police quarters here on Saturday, the Collector said the revenue officials (executive magistrates) and the police should work in tandem and ensure that the protocols were followed while dealing with rioting mobs. The police and revenue officials had demonstrated the anti-riot mock drill in the presence of Deputy Inspector General of Police (Ramanathapuram range) N. Kamini and Superintendent of Police Omprakash Meena.