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Kerala traders protest raids on video libraries
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 9 Traders across Kerala downed their
shutters Tuesday to protest against police raids on video
libraries to check video piracy.
The shutdown, called by the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana
Samithi, the biggest trader's body in the state, saw all shops
and trading establishments in the state closed except hotels and
medical stores.
Trouble began brewing in December since Inspector General of
Police Rishi Raj Singh, the officer in charge of piracy, landed
up at the office of Riyan Studio at Kochi that is owned by the
wife of Singh's colleague and another inspector general, Tomin
J. Thachenkary.
Singh's visit saw him being relieved of the post. But Kerala
Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan intervened and Singh was put
back in his job. From then on, the officer has been strictly
rounding up all errant video shop owners.
"We are not against the police rounding up offenders but against
the irresponsible raids and arrest of shop owners. We feel this
is being done to please the north Indian video lobby that is
trying to enter Kerala in a big way," said T. Naseruddin,
president of the trader's body.
There are around 30,000 video libraries in the state employing
around 100,000 people. Several library owners have been arrested
for violation of the Copyright Act.
"The offenders will be seriously dealt with but innocents will
not have any problem. The raids will continue," said
Achuthanandan.
Naseruddin described Tuesday's shutdown as a "token protest" and
warned that if "the authorities do not mend their ways, we will
resort to more serious forms of protest".
However, the film industry has welcomed the police action. It
has been urging successive governments in the state to clamp
down on video piracy, which was threatening the industry.
"This is a right step in the right direction and we have been
demanding this for long. We are not against anyone. All we want
is to put an end to the video piracy of new releases," said
Innocent, ace comedian and president of the Association of
Malayalam Movie Artistes.
Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said: "We will take no
sides. Only violators of law need be worried."
IANS
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