Thiruvananthapuram: The state police intelligence has alerted the police higher-ups and the government of the aggravating politicisation of police service associations.
While state police chief Loknath Behera has taken serious note of the matter, the association leaders are of the opinion that they have not done anything new.
Some of the annual conferences of Kerala Police Association had organised martyrs' commemoration and sloganeering. It was also alleged that the blue logo of the association was painted red at some conferences.
The intelligence is learnt to have alerted the government and the police top brass that too much politicisation of the police force would affect their independent functioning and that it should be restricted at once.
Intelligence sources told DC that though they had not given any formal reports, they were seized of the matter. "It is obviously a serious matter and the police headquarters should take steps to curb it," said an intelligence official.
The police associations are only allowed to work for the welfare of the police officials and should not have political affiliations. But over the past many years, the police officials having affiliations with the ruling parties used to be elected as the office-bearers.
Meanwhile, Kerala Police Association (KPA) state president T.S. Baiju said that martyrs’ commemoration and sloganeering were nothing new. Even during the term of the previous office-bearers, such events were organised.
He, however, said that the change in colour of the logo was a mistake made at some meeting venues. It was done to give more visibility to the logo as the banners were in blue. It was corrected at once, he said.
