Khaki hats may make way for peaked caps

BENGALURU: The police force in Karnataka may soon ditch its traditional khaki hats for peaked caps, which it says are more comfortable and novel.
Constables at the office of the director general and inspector general of police (DG&IGP) on Nrupathunga Road were seen sporting the new headgear on Saturday.

“We asked around 20 constables to try out the dark blue peaked cap to see how different they looked and what impression they had on people when they visited the office, before we decide to replace old-fashioned hat. A final decision on introducing peaked caps may be taken next week,’’ a senior officer at the DG&IGP office said.

The khaki hat now in use was introduced by former chief minister R Gundu Rao during his tenure from 1980 and 1983. Prior to that, constables used to wear blue hats with red stripes. Constables and head constables were also clad in shorts then.

“The peaked cap looks more modern and professional and it instils confidence in police personnel,” an officer told STOI.

However, sources said it may take more than a couple of months for the transition. The proposal should first be submitted before the state government by DG&IGP Neelamani Raju. Deputy chief minister G Parameshwara who also holds the home portfolio will take a final call in consultation with chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, they said.

Change the attire, change the mindset

According to home department sources, Parameshwara had directed senior police officers to bring about reforms in the department, including uniforms. “Each police personnel should look modern and professional. The attitude will definitely change with the dress,” an officer said quoting Parameshwara. Accordingly, a committee headed by Bhaskar Rao, additional director general of police, KSRP, was formed to looked into the matter and submit a report. As an experiment, constables and head constables at a physical training session in North Karnataka were seen dressed in white pants and yellow T-shirts. Similarly, officers of the rank of inspector and above were seen in white shirt, blue tie and black pants during an interaction.

“The committee is looking at with different possibilities and the peak cap is one such experiment. The idea is to make each policeman an important officer,” sources said.