Section 144 to be in force in Ramanathapuram district from Sept 9

MADURAI: Ramanathapuram district collector B Vishnu Chandran ordered promulgation of Section 144 of the CrPC in view of the birth anniversary celebrations of community leaders Immanuel Sekaran and Muthuramalinga Thevar.

The Section 144 will come into effect on September 9 to a period of two months.

The district administration has also banned the entry of hired vehicles coming to the birthplaces of Immanuel Sekaran at Paramakudi and Muthuramalinga Thevar at Pasumpon.

A statement signed by the district collector stated that under Section 144 of the CrPC any public meetings or assembly of five or more persons or processions, except with prior permission, are prohibited. The entry of all type of hired vehicles namely tourist motor cabs, tourist maxi cabs, all India tourist motor cabs and omnibuses and any other tourist vehicles include stage carriers with temporary or special permits or goods carriages and tractors as well as two-wheelers and auto rickshaws from other districts carrying volunteers for the guru puja of Immanuel Sekaran and Muthuramalinga Thevar is prohibited.

Torchlight rallies are also prohibited except from within a kilometre of the venue and with prior permission during these events, the collector said.

The promulgation order has been issued based on the advice of police department considering the past incidents of violence and loss of lives when the volunteers were permitted on hired vehicles for these events. Personal vehicles are allowed, but the drivers should carry original driving licence and other documents of the vehicles, the statement further observed.