Kallakurichi violence

THE death of the 17-year-old girl student in Kallakurichi in Tamil Nadu was a sad incident (“Death and rioting in a school”, August 12). The violence and looting of the school that followed took the administration by surprise. It is reported that more than 3,000 people, many of whom came from neighbouring districts, took part in it. Anti-social elements infiltrated otherwise peaceful protests and created unrest for which the police are also partly responsible as they failed to take heed of the warning from intelligence agencies of a possible backlash.

The perpetrators of the violence used many hurriedly formed Whatsapp groups to mobilise support for their cause. This incident should not be viewed as an isolated one as troublemongers are at work everywhere to create schisms in society by fanning communal passions. State governments and law enforcement agencies should be aware of the possibility of anti-social elements waiting for opportune moments to create trouble.

T.N. VENUGOPALAN KOCHI, KERALA