A climate of apprehension descended upon the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Kadavanthra, Kochi, on Sunday, October 19, 2025, when police temporarily halted an atheist gathering. The disruption was prompted by serious security concerns after a firearm was discovered on one of the attendees.
The event, “Litmus 2025,” organized by the esSENSE Global group, experienced a two-hour suspension as authorities evacuated the stadium to conduct a comprehensive security sweep. Following the rigorous checks, which found no other suspicious items, police gave the green light for the summit to recommence by 2 p.m.
The individual carrying the weapon, identified as a resident of Udayamperoor in Ernakulam, was taken into custody at the Kadavanthra police station for further questioning. Police confirmed that the gun was legally licensed, and no charges have been filed regarding the incident. The man stated he was unaware that carrying a firearm, even a licensed one, into a crowded public event was against regulations. Authorities are currently verifying his statement.
Police Debunk Bomb Threat Rumors
Despite initial reports suggesting a bomb threat as the cause for the security intervention, police promptly clarified that no such threat had been received. “The organizers themselves alerted us after their security guards found a gun with an attendee,” a Kadavanthra police official explained. “We immediately responded, evacuated all delegates, and carried out an extensive search, including a bomb squad sweep, before permitting the program to continue.”
The police action occurred amidst a lively debate featuring rationalist-writer C. Ravichandran, a key organizer, and Sreejith Panicker, a well-known right-leaning political commentator. According to organizers, the event was being attended by over 4,500 delegates. Prominent Bangladeshi-Swedish writer Taslima Nasrin is also slated to participate in the summit later on Sunday evening.