Don't try to communalise police: Kerala CM

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday warned of stern action against those trying to communalise police force in the state.

The chief minister was addressing the Police Formation Day raising day parade here. He said attempt to attack and neutralise the police force has come to the government's notice.

"Police officers are being humiliated in the name of religion and caste. The government is fully aware that such attacks are aimed at destroying the future of the state. These planned attacks have to be taken seriously," Pinarayi said indirectly referring to the attack on IG Manoj Abraham in connection with the action taken against violent groups in Nilackal and Pampa.

The chief minister said there will be no compromise in dealing with criminals who are targeting individual police officers. There is an attempt to bring officers who take stern action, under pressure.

Abraham was singled out and attacked by certain organisations including a section of BJP leaders. A case was registered against BJP spokesman B Gopalakrishnan for making derogatory remarks against Abraham. There was a sustained campaign against the IG on social media.

Earlier, in public meetings the chief minister had alleged that the Sangh Parivar was trying to create communal polarisation in all sectors. There were even attempts to single out police officers with exemplary track record in Sabarimala and attack them.  Heinous attempts are being made to communally polarise the police force. The BJP state president had even gone to the extent of asking police officials to take stand as per their belief.

The chief minister said there was a clear attempt to destroy discipline in the force and create communal differences. "They are trying to create unrest in the police force. This is proof enough that they wanted to sabotage the Supreme Court verdict," he added. 

Pinarayi said there may be believers among police officers. Police does not provide security to people taking into account their religion. The attempt to communalise the police force needs to be defeated. Police cannot be entrusted with the law and order duty based on caste and religion. There is no such precedent.

The chief minister pointed out that the attempt was to wreck the magnificent secular tradition in police force.