The Congress-led UDF opposition today staged a walkout in the Kerala assembly over the practice of deploying junior policemen for the personal service of senior officials even as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan assured stern action against erring officials.
The UDF alleged that the government was not sincere in taking action against senior police officers who deploy junior police personnel and camp followers for their personal service as treat them as "slaves".
They protested even as Vijayan maintained that lapses would not be tolerated in the police force and said stern action would be taken against the erring officials irrespective of the position they hold.
The UDF members referred to the recent incident of alleged manhandling of a police driver by the daughter of an Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) rank officer here as an example for the 'enslavement' prevailing in the force.
Vijayan said there would not be any compromise on lapses and the government's stand on the issue was very clear.
"The government will take stern action against any officer who treat their subordinates as domestic helps," he said adding no official had the right to engage them for menial jobs like bathing their pet dogs.
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"We have received complaints against a few officials in this regard. Stern action will be taken against them after examining the facts," the chief minister said.
He, however, said it was not possible to generalise the lapses on the part of a few in the force.
K Muraleedharan (Congress) alleged that treating policemen as "slaves" by the senior police officials had brought 'disrepute' to the state and wanted the decades-old practice to be stopped.
Before staging the walkout, Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala accused the Chief Minister of 'trivialising' the issue and not being 'sincere' in initiating action against 'erring' top brass.
The government was yet to take any action against the ADGP's daughter who had allegedly manhandled the police driver, he said.
The alleged assault of the driver, Gavaskar, by Snigdha, the daughter of ADGP Sudesh Kumar, had triggered widespread condemnation from various quarters.
Kumar was was later removed as the head of Armed Police Battalions.
Vijayan had yesterday said in the assembly that the practice of deploying junior policemen for the personal service of senior officials would be done away with in the state.
In his complaint, Gavaskar alleged Snigdha had verbally abused him and hit him on his neck and shoulder with her mobile phone for delay in bringing the vehicle to pick her up after her morning walk.
A case had been registered against Snigdha under various sections of the IPC based on Gavaskar's complaint, while he too was booked over her counter complaint. Crime Branch ADGP is investigating both the complaints.