The Kerala police are associated with the unmistakable khaki. The police stations, however, remain an amalgamation of colors. Attempts to get a uniform coat for the police stations have sparked a row between the state police chief and his predecessor. T.P. Senkumar does not seem very amused by Loknath Behera’s order to paint all stations in olive brown. What lies behind the conflicting colors?
Police stations in Kerala come in a variety of colors though a consensus on police uniforms was reached years ago. That agreement was not an easy one though.
Former director general of police had to lobby their way through the cacophony before they settled on the color of the uniform. Voices were heard against khaki because the color was apparently associated with state terror. A decade-old recommendation to adopt a more gentlemanly look for the policemen as in England was caught in the red tape.
Fans of khaki argued that the force needed the traditional color to retain the fear factor.
No such arguments arose when it came to the police stations. Stations could be painted in red, yellow, blue or any other color the officer in charge liked. Sources in the police headquarters say that they are not aware of any government circular prescribing a particular color for the police stations in the state.
The local police find a suitable building for the station and go for any color that fits in the budget allocated for the modification. The picture is prettier when it comes to the headquarters and offices of top cops such as commissioners. Higher offices are often clad in more expensive paints.
The police headquarters, however, is clear on the boards of the stations and the vehicles used by the force. The boards of the police stations are painted in blue and red with white letters on them. Sometimes red letters appear on white boards.
Police vehicles were painted in blue during K.J. Joseph’s tenure as police chief from 2002 to 2003. Blue was the color of choice for all vehicles from the DGP’ car to the police vans. The uniformity was faded later when different shades of blue were painted on different vehicles.
In due course, some officers switched to white. Blue was not too glamorous for them. Top officers including the director general of police and the additional directors general of police nowadays go to town in white cars.