Thiruvananthapuram: State police chief Loknath Behera has sought a report from Inspector-Generals of Police (IGs) of the four ranges regarding the politicisation of police associations. The IGs of Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kannur ranges were asked to give a report on the political influence on the police associations in the wake of an alert by the police intelligence wing.
Meanwhile, there were allegations that the state police chief was adopting delaying tactics by not taking any swift action against the association leaders despite a specific alert by the state intelligence. The district-level association meetings are still progressing in many places. In view of the intelligence report, the association leaders were learnt to have alerted the cadres to avoid any arrangements that could attract further allegation of politicisation.
According to sources, the IGs were asked to give reports on specific allegations that Martyrs' commemoration and sloganeering were organised at some of the annual conferences of Kerala Police Association and that the blue logo of the association was painted red at some conferences. There were also allegations that police officials having allegiance with the ruling CPM wore red shirts at some meetings and sat as a separate block.
The association leaders maintained that martyrs' commemoration and sloganeering were being done at many such association meetings over the last many years. They, however, admitted a lapse in changing the colour of the logo at some venues, but justified that it was done to give more visibility to the logo as the banners were in blue. As per norms, police associations should not show affinity to any political parties and work only for the welfare of the police personnel. However, politicisation of the election of association office-bearers was often an open secret and usually those owing allegiance to the ruling parties were elected.
