Despite elaborate security arrangements, a group of retired police personnel, along with families of serving policemen, gathered in front of the entry gate of the Assembly on Thursday and shouted slogans.
Earlier, retired police personnel Velusamy and Manoharan reportedly submitted a memorandum to officials in Secretariat listing out their demands. The group that protested was led by retired sub-inspector S. Selvazhagan.
Police personnel who were on duty removed the protesters from the spot. Joint Commissioner of Police R.Sudhakar held talks with them and took them to North Beach Police from where they were released later.
Their representations were forwarded to the Chief Minister’s office.
To prevent any such protests and demonstrations, top police officers had made elaborate security arrangements. Patrolling vehicles were stationed along Kamarajar Road up to Secretariat. All the roads leading to Secretariat had been cordoned off and a large police force stationed in the area.
Discontent brewing
Over the last two weeks, posters had sprung up on city walls and messages were circulated on social media and mobile messaging networks calling upon families of police personnel to come in large numbers to stage a protest and present their demands to Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Thursday.
The police department’s Demand for Grants was debated at the Assembly that day.
The protesters demanded the implementation of eight-hour duty for serving police personnel and weekly holidays that other government employees were entitled to. They also said that vacancies should be filled and the orderly system be abolished, besides asking for permission for setting up an association for their welfare.
Mr. Selvazhagan told The Hindu , “Several police personnel have died in harness and their family members should be given compassionate ground appointments. We demand that the system of orderlies to high officials be abolished, the enhancement of family welfare fund to ₹10 lakh, and scrapping of the new pension scheme.”
Bad working conditions
The protesters demanded that the government should issue orders for police constables to work in their native districts and asked for parity between police personnel and other government employees. “Twenty four hours duty, heavy workload and shortage of manpower have led to severe depression among serving police personnel,” said a memorandum. The protesters also demanded that double wages should be given to them for doing duty during government holidays. All allowances should be increased to meet present day life standards.
