From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, May 28: Even as the police in Karnataka are getting ready to go on a mass leave on June 4 to register their protest against the poor treatment by the State Government, Karnataka’s Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara said the Government will consider revising the salary of policemen on par with some other states during the next pay revision commission.

Dr Parameshwara, who spoke to reporters on Saturday in view of the planned mass leave by policemen from June 4 perhaps for the first time in the State, appealed to protesting police officials to drop their plans to go on a mass leave on June 4.

In a first of its kind in the state, police personnel are planning to go on mass leave on June 4, in protest against the harassment by senior officers in the name of discipline, meagre salary, no proper leaves and other issues faced on the professional front. In some districts, a large number of policemen have applied leave on June 4.

"We have collected information from a few other states about salaries of police there. The government will consider hiking the salary during the next pay revision commission,’’ Dr Parameshwara said.

“I urge the protesting police personnel to withdraw their plan to go on a mass leave because they are a disciplined force,” he said.

However, the police have to be on duty more than eight hours owing to shortage of personnel. About 15,000 policemen would be appointed during the next three years, he said.

Karnataka was facing shortage about 25,000 police. Now, about 13,000 police have been undergoing training or recruitment process was underway, he said.

Noting that the police do not enjoy the right to protest under the police manual, he said the State Government has also taken note of other demands made by policemen.
Strike or protest was not allowed any way, but “we have taken note of the demands of the police” he said.

Quoting from the police manual, he said as per the manual the striking police could be summarily dismissed from the service.

Replying to a query, he said the State Government would take action against those indulging in provoking policemen to go on a mass leave using various social media such as Facebook and WhatsApp.

“We are tracking various social media and will take action against those indulging in provoking policemen to go on mass leave,” he said.