Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Aug 5: If the plans which are afoot go ahead as scheduled, the police constables in the state will soon be spared of their slouch caps, which are proposed to be replaced with peak caps like their Tamil Nadu counterparts.

Preparations are afoot to bring this change, which is expected to change the image of the policemen in the minds of the general public. In addition to enhancing their appearance, these caps will also make the constables look like higher level officers.

At a meeting held in the state police headquarters here which was chaired by director general of state police, Neelamani N Raju on Saturday August 4, serious discussions about change in design of caps and uniforms of constables were held.

As per the current plan, the constables will sport peak caps like the ones currently worn by police inspectors. The central health department had, in its report to the police department here, observed that slouch caps create obstacles during law and order maintenance and operations and that their design is not in the interests of the health of constables.

In the past, the then state director general of police, Dr Ajai Kumar Singh, had issued a circular against addressing the lower level officials of his department as constables. He wanted to give a status of respect to constables, who number over 80,000 in the state. The then inspector general of police, Nissar Ahmed, too had recommended to Kempiah, who was then head of police welfare committee, to bring changes in the uniforms and design of caps provided to the constables.