SHRC directive to police chief

The State Human Rights Commission on Friday asked the State Police Chief to verify whether the police were outsourcing law enforcement to Home Guards (HG).

Chairperson J.B. Koshy passed the order on the basis of a petition filed by civil interest litigant, P.K. Raju.

He said Home Guards routinely stopped vehicles for checking and imposed and collected fines for traffic offences. They wielded wireless sets.

The uniform of Home Guards was strikingly similar to that of policemen and women.

He said the Fire Service Department, and not the police, had contracted Home Guards.

However, Home Guards were routinely assigned to do police duties. They were also not supposed to carry weapons or batons.