Chennai : Stretching their powers a bit too far, the police in Tamil Nadu on Sunday ordered a shopping-cum-multiplex mall in Coimbatore to shut down as anonymous persons had on a Facebook page claimed that they would organise a re-run of Kochi’s controversial ‘Kiss of Love’ protests at the mall.
Only around 10 days ago, students of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Madras) landed on the lawns of their campus to kiss each other raising the hackles of the ‘moral brigade’ led by right wing and casteist political groups. The IIT administration has since made it mandatory for students to take the permission of the dean to organise any event on the campus.
Close on the heels of this incident, a Facebook Page was launched by a community called ‘Kiss of Love – Coimbatore’ who announced a show for free hugs and kisses at the Fun Republic Mall on Avinashi Road, which is located close to a few well-known engineering and arts and science colleges. Ironically, the mall authorities were unaware of the plans of those who loved to kiss in public.
Even before the ‘arrow of kisses’ could be unleashed, the Indu Makkal Katchi, a right wing outfit had threatened of protests. And the Coimbatore police came up with the bizarre reaction of asking the mall authorities to shutdown the place for a day unmindful of the fact that Sunday is when the mall attracts some decent footfalls.
A heavy police posse was posted around the mall and also at other popular jaunts in the city such as the VOC Park hoping to avert the ‘Kiss of Love’ campaigners from changing the venue at the last minute.
“This is bizarre to say the least. The shops in the mall have lost weekend business to the tune of over Rs 2 crore due to this. The Fun Cinemas had to cancel shows in all the five screens and Rs 7 lakh collected from movie patrons will have to be reimbursed now,” lamented a mall spokesperson.
