The Kozhikode city unit of the Kerala Police Association (KPA) on Monday claimed that the allegation against District Police Chief (Kozhikode city) Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar that he was using nine camp followers as domestic helps was baseless.
The association leaders, asked about a WhatsApp message that camp followers were forced to work like “slaves” at the officer’s house, termed it false.
They said there were around 25 camp followers in Kozhikode district who were members of various unions, and that any such misuse could have been exposed by these unions. KPA has not received any such complaint.
An office-bearer of the association said there were three camp followers in Kozhikode city to serve the police chief, but none of them was forced to take up domestic work. However, the KPA leader said policemen had protested against the police chief’s practice of taking a 12-member escort while travelling in the district.
These policemen, who were members of the striking force, should be kept ready at the city headquarters to meet emergency situations, and their services should not be degraded to the level of a pilot force, he said.