The Karnataka government’s strategy of playing “good cop, bad cop” — warning of strict action, on the one hand, and promising to meet the constables’ demands, on the other — resulted in the planned protest by the constabulary, demanding better pay and working conditions, fizzling out on Saturday.
Close watch
Police stations across Karnataka saw full attendance by constables, with senior officials keeping a close watch. Director-General and Inspector-General of Police Om Prakash said that policemen attended duty in all districts.
The government had threatened that any protest would attract ESMA and constables would be evicted from their housing quarters if their family members participated in the protest.
On Saturday, Home Minister G. Parameshwara promised to address all the demands of the constables, numbering over 30, within the next 45 days.
Though top policemen had assessed the situation a day before the scheduled ‘mass leave’ and confirmed that it would not happen, they had made elaborate security arrangements.
To ensure that the law and order situation in the State was not disturbed, the police administration deployed 13 companies of Central Reserve Police Force. Railway Protection Force and other Central forces, apart from 11,000 Home Guards, were also deployed.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who was in Mysuru on Saturday thanked the constables for not resorting to ‘mass leave,’ and reiterated that their demands would be looked into.
