Police vehicle withdrawn from Vijayan's Kannur home, security remains
A police vehicle serving as a makeshift station outside Pinarayi Vijayan's Kannur residence was removed after it broke down. Security personnel remain deployed.
The police vehicle that had been stationed outside the residence of Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan in Pinarayi, Kannur, has been removed. The vehicle, which had been functioning as a makeshift police post, became unserviceable and was towed away by Armed Reserve personnel around midnight on Wednesday.
Despite the vehicle's removal, the police personnel assigned to security duty at the residence have not been withdrawn. Security arrangements continue with officers from the Kannur Armed Reserve camp working in shifts, with one Sub-Inspector and two civil police officers on duty at any given time.
The vehicle had been positioned outside the residence since Vijayan assumed the role of Chief Minister, as the property drew visitors and onlookers. Over time, the makeshift arrangement lacked basic amenities, with personnel having no proper rest areas or toilet facilities. They had initially depended on neighbouring houses for access to toilets, and the situation only improved after a new police station was opened in Pinarayi, roughly 800 metres away.
An outhouse on the residence premises was not made available to the security staff. The removal of the vehicle, without an immediate alternative, has made working conditions more difficult, particularly during rain and at night, as personnel previously used the vehicle for shelter.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had indicated last month that a decision on the vehicle would follow a review by the State Security Commission. Kannur City Police Commissioner Vijay Bharat Reddy confirmed that the vehicle was removed following that review and stated that personnel would now have resting facilities at the Pinarayi police station.