Obscene dance performances reportedly organised as part of temple or village festivals in some pockets of West Zone (Tamilnadu) would henceforth be monitored by the police.

Deputy Inspectors-General of Police in Coimbatore and Salem range, Superintendents of Police in Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Salem Rural, Namakkal, Erode, Tirupur, Coimbatore and The Nilgiris districts have been asked by Inspector-General of Police, West Zone, S. Davidson Devasirvatham, to issue circulars to the Inspectors and Deputy Superintendents of Police asking them to maintain vigil against such performances.

The step had been initiated following complaints about obscene dance performances, especially from some parts of Tirupur, Erode, Namakkal and Salem districts, police sources said.

Police deny permission for such stage performances, but the organisers demand it as their right by obtaining directions from the court. The court also lays down conditions on the conduct of such events. Ultimately, the organisers violate the conditions.

Police in the West Zone would take a zero tolerant view of such public display of obscenity and notices would be served on the organisers as well as the groups performing such dance programmes. Police have already begun preparing a list of groups that conduct such obscene dance performances. The police are also planning to get such festivals and dance performances videographed.