Police arrest "Kiss of Love" supporters in Kochi

KOCHI: Keeping in trend with the prevailing atmosphere of intimidation, the city police arrested around 40 people who had gathered to take part in 'Kiss of Love' to be held at Marine Drive on Sunday evening.
"They were placed under preventive arrest under section 151 of CrPC to ensure that there is no law and order problem," a police official said.This arrest came despite DGP K S Balasubramanian stating that police will act only if there is "any violation of obscenity laws coupled with law and order issues''.
However, the arrest didn't deter some of the participants and they were seen kissing inside the police van. Kiss of Love, as its organisers have repeatedly clarified, has been conceived largely as a symbolic resistance to the very real threat of moral policing that is on the rise in the state.
On Sunday around 5000 people, including women, gathered at Marine Drive. Sources said that along with those who were there to support the movement, there were also some who had gathered at the event to protest against 'Kiss of Love' .The event has generated lot of debate amongst the cynical Malayali and divided the Kerala society.