Ayyappa devotees protest at DGP office after SI denies permission to wear religious attire on duty

Tension prevailed near the Telangana DGP office after Ayyappa Swamy devotees protested against police for denying permission to a Kanchanbagh sub inspector to wear Ayyappa attire during deeksha while on duty. Officials cited departmental rules and advised applying for leave instead.

Hyderabad: Tension broke out near the Telangana DGP office on Thursday when scores of Ayyappa Swamy devotees staged a protest against the Telangana police for denying permission to a police sub inspector to wear ‘Ayyappa attire’ while on duty.

Around 50 Ayyappa Swamy devotees reached the DGP office at Lakdikapul in the afternoon and raised slogans against the Telangana police and the Congress government.

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The issue stems from a memo issued by the Additional DCP (south east) K Sreekanth denying permission to a sub inspector working in Kanchanbagh police station to wear ‘Ayyappa Swamy attire’ on duty and move without shoes during the ‘Ayyappa deeksha’. “If any police personnel desire to observe deeksha, they can apply for leave to do so,” the memo stated. In the morning, a group of devotees had staged a protest at the DCP (east) office at Saidabad regarding the issue.

The sub inspector had sought permission for growing hair and beard, wearing of civil dress (black dress) without shoes for religious purpose while on duty. The police higher officials had denied the permission citing the department rules.