Thu Oct 23 05:50:37 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the provided text, followed by a rewritten version as a news article:

Summary:

A Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) in Alathur, Kerala, R. Manoj Kumar, has sparked controversy by posting a critical WhatsApp status update regarding President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple. The DySP alleged that the President violated Sabarimala customs and questioned the lack of protest from political parties. He has since deleted the post claiming it was shared accidentally. The District Police Chief has demanded an explanation, stating the post violated the code of conduct. The BJP is protesting the DySP’s actions.

News Article:

Kerala DySP Faces Action After Criticizing President’s Temple Visit

PALAKKAD, October 23, 2025 (The Hindu) – A controversy has erupted in Kerala after a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) posted a critical message on WhatsApp regarding President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple on Wednesday.

R. Manoj Kumar, DySP of Alathur, allegedly claimed in his WhatsApp status that President Murmu had “flagrantly violated” Sabarimala customs and that security personnel had “abetted” the breach of tradition. The post further questioned why political parties like the Congress and BJP had not staged protests in response to the alleged violation. He also speculated on the repercussions if Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan or his cabinet ministers had acted similarly.

The post quickly gained attention, prompting Mr. Kumar to delete it. He has since claimed that he inadvertently shared a forwarded message while traveling.

However, the District Police Chief, Ajit Kumar, has taken a serious view of the incident. “The post was a clear violation of the code of conduct,” he stated. “We have demanded an explanation from the DySP and will initiate further action based on his response.”

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has condemned the DySP’s actions and announced plans to march to the Alathur DySP office on Thursday to protest.

The incident has sparked a debate about freedom of expression for government officials and the sensitivity surrounding religious customs, especially in the context of high-profile visits.

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