P. A. Mohammed, J.

1. The petitioner is a private limited company called 'M/s Glasco Carriers Pvt. Ltd.' engaged in the business of dealership in liquified petroleum gas (LPG) under the Indian Oil Corporation (hereinafter called I.O.C.). The substantial prayer in this writ petition is to give a direction to respondents 12 and 13 who are police officials to provide police protection to the petitioner's work of loading and unloading and transportation of LPG cylinders from and to the Indian Bottling Plant of the I. O. C. at Nadakkavu in Udyamperoor.

2. In view of the commissioning of the Bottling Plant at Udayamperoor, I. O. C. expected to bottle and transport more number of LPG cylinders throughout the State. In order to meet this additional demand, I. O. C. decided to enter into contract for transporting of the LPG cylinders. The petitioner made discussions with the officials of the I. O. C. on 11 - 1 - 1994 and offered its willingness to accept the work order as per Ext. P1 letter dated 11-1-1994. By Ext. P2 letter I. O. C. has granted the work order to the petitioner, subject to its execution during the period from 7-12-1994 to 31-10-199. The petitioner thereafter filed an