BENGALURU: It’s not official, but the threatened ‘mass leave’ protest on Saturday by some 50,000 constables and other lower ranks of the police force may have just been called off.
On Friday, policemen from the ranks of constables up to the ranks of ACP/DySP were ordered to sign an undertaking that they would not participate in the proposed protest.
“We were all ordered to sign the undertaking. Senior officers threatened disciplinary action against those who refused to. We had no option but to sign," one policeman said.
Senior officers have also asked all policemen to be present at work on Saturday by 8 am in uniform. “Even those in non-executive postings like CID, Intelligence and Internal Security Division have been directed to come in uniform,” an official said.
And for good measure, even family members of policemen have been warned against taking part in any protest.
Lower rung policemen, however, said the 'mass leave' threat had had some effect. “We have been browbeaten, but we have been assured that we will at least get compulsory weekly offs and better residential quarters,” they said.
Police top brass douse strike fire
The mass leave protest planned by the police constabulary across the state has already started to bear fruits by the way of home department announcing compulsory weekly-offs and restricted working hours for the constabulary with immediate effect.
Senior police officers held roll-call parades at their respective divisions on Friday morning and lent an ear to the grievances of the constabulary. Senior IPS officials after taking an account of all grievances, later visited police quarters that needed immediate attention. The officials also interacted with the family members of the constabulary and assured them that they would resolve all their problems.
Officials also appealed to the family members to keep away from protest and send their men to work on June 4. The officials also warned the family members that if they resort to protest, after sending their men to work, stringent action will be taken against them as well.
DCPs and ACPs of various police divisions along with their senior officials visited police quarters on Mysuru Road, Anand Rao Circle, Adugodi, Magadi Road, Halsooru, and Vijayanagar. Senior police officers who visited the police quarters on Magadi Road were gheraoed by the family members of the constabulary questioning the officials - why did it take so long for them to come and address their grievances?. There are around 430 houses in the Magadi Road quarters, which are in a bad shape. The constabulary of CAR, city police and drivers live with their families.
Family members told the officials that their men had to slog at work for over 14 hours a day with meagre salaries and no proper leave policies. They lived in police quarters that are dilapidated with no proper water supply or electricity. The family members poured out their woes and demanded better infrastructure from the senior officials, who patiently heard their problems and assured them of action.
The wretched working condition is also taking a heavy toll on the health of the constabulary. “Several constables are suffering from hypertension and diabetes and spending for their medical bills from their meagre salary,” a family member said.
“It took for a dismissed constable outside police department to form a non-registered organisation to highlight the issues inside the department and now the senior police officials are running around to rectify everything in a day’s time after arresting that man,” quipped a constable who did not want to be named.
