Kerala DGP dismisses reports claiming terrorist presence in Guruvayur

Kerala State Police Chief Ravada A Chandrasekhar on Tuesday dismissed as false reports circulating on certain online platforms claiming the presence of terrorists in the famed temple town of Guruvayur. Clarifying the situation, the DGP said that a Kashmiri man found in the temple town on April 22 had been taken into police custody and examined in detail.

Kerala State Police Chief Ravada A Chandrasekhar on Tuesday dismissed as false reports circulating on certain online platforms claiming the presence of terrorists in the famed temple town of Guruvayur. Clarifying the situation, the DGP said that a Kashmiri man found in the temple town on April 22 had been taken into police custody and examined in detail. ''The individual has been verified and appears to have psychological issues. His family and the local police have been contacted, and no extremist links have been found,'' Chandrasekhar said. He added that the man has been hospitalised and will be handed over to the Kashmir police. The DGP's statement came amid claims on some social media platforms about the presence of terrorists in Guruvayur, a major pilgrimage centre in the state. Urging media platforms to act responsibly, he called for proper verification with police authorities before publishing or sharing such sensitive information. Chandrasekhar also assured that stringent, round-the-clock security arrangements are in place in Guruvayur to ensure the safety of devotees and facilitate smooth darshan. He said additional police personnel would be deployed if required. The DGP was speaking during his visit to Guruvayur in an interview with the Devaswom's YouTube channel, which was also shared on its official Facebook page. Thrissur Range DIG T Narayanan and City Police Commissioner Nakul Aditya were also present.