Kerala tribal cop alleges caste discrimination by colleagues, writes to CM, DGP

The officer belongs to the Kurumba tribe from Kadukumanna hamlet and is posted at Agali police station in Palakkad district.

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A civil police officer from Agali police station in Palakkad district has alleged that he faced discrimination and ostracism from his colleagues over his caste.

M Haridas, a policeman who belongs to the Kurumba tribe from Kadukumanna hamlet and is also the head of the hamlet, has sent a letter to the state police chief, Kerala Chief Minister, state human rights commission and Kerala State Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes claiming that he was not able to continue his work due to harassment from a few of his colleagues. He has also alleged that some of his colleagues threatened and misbehaved with his wife.

The policeman has named six civil police officers of the station in his complaint.

Haridas joined the police force in 2011 and for seven years, he was working especially to spot Maoist presence and to locate Ganja plantations. He had also received a badge of honour from the state police chief for his services.

"This was my dream job. I studied, wrote exams and secured the job like anyone else in the service. For seven years, I worked under different IPS officers helping them to track down Maoists and locate Ganja plantations. Every one liked me. But everything turned upside down when I was shifted to Agali police station a year ago," Haridas said.

Haridas had good contacts in different tribal hamlets as he was one among them, which helped him to find ganja plantations inside forests. "Even though I was shifted to another police station, I helped the special forces in locating such illegal plantations. Some of my colleagues’ ego was hurt as a tribal person was able to do all this. They started harassing my secret informants by visiting their houses in uniform and threatening them," Haridas says.

The policeman alleges that his colleagues mentioned in the complaint has insulted him many times by using obscene language and would say, “All adivasis don't do their work.”

"I suffered everything as I was passionate about my job. But a few weeks ago, one of them who is much junior to me, threatened my wife over the phone. He said that I and my wife will die in poverty soon and that my job will be gone. He shouted at her asking whether she is a woman and why she can’t advise me," he added.

Haridas, who is on medical leave, says that he doesn’t feel like going back to work. "I am ostracised badly. They don't even talk to me. Even if I ask some doubts, they don't answer. How will I work in such an environment?” he asks.

He also alleged that he was intentionally insulted by them several times. "Two days ago, one of them told me that I don't have any duty until I meet the Circle Inspector. When I met him later, he was not aware about having said anything. Once I was asked to get ready to go for a training. I dressed up and waited the whole day. Next day, they all went together without informing me," Haridas painfully recalls a few instances.