Bengaluru: Karnataka government has decided to take the police constables threatening to go on mass leave head on. In an attempt to break the proposed strike by police constables on June 4, the Director General of Police (DGP) Omprakash has issued a circular warning the men in uniform of dire consequences, if they go on mass casual leave.
Karnataka State Police Association president Shashidhar has asked police constables to go on one day mass casual leave in protest against increasing political interference, low salaries and poor working conditions.
Other constables are hesitating to join the strike fearing loss of job.
Alarmed by this unprecedented development, the DGP and Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara have held series of meetings to finalise the government strategy.
The police force has never gone on strike in the state and rules also don't permit them to abandon duty and protest. The DGP has ordered all ADGPs, IGPs, Police Commissioners and SPs not to sanction the mass casual leave on June 4.
Even the Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare department has issued another circular ordering all government hospitals not to issue medical emergency certificates to police constables on June 4.
In his circular the DGP termed the call for a strike illegal and blamed some anti-social elements for instigating the constables for the same. He also cited the example of the then Mumbai Police Commissioner dismissing all constables who went on a strike in 1982 from the service without any inquiry.
"Police personnel can't have trade unions and go on strike. It is against the law. If they violate the law, they can be fined and sent to jail for two years. They can also be dismissed from job without inquiry. Some anti-social elements are provoking them. We are trying to persuade them not to fall prey to such vested interests," he told News18.com.
Home Minister Parameshwara said that he was personally monitoring the situation and was willing to consider the demands of constables, if they drop the idea of strike.
Reacting to latest developments, Shashidhar said, "The government has not done anything for us. After all our attempts failed to draw the attention of the people in power, we have decided to go on a strike. Constables are being treated like second class citizens. Senior officers treat them like slaves. In the name of discipline, we are constantly harassed."
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