Ayyappa devotees protest near Telangana DGP office over dress restrictions

Around 50 Ayyappa Swamy devotees protested near Telangana DGP office after a sub-inspector was denied permission to wear religious attire and go barefoot while on duty. Police cited department rules, saying officers must apply for leave to observe deeksha

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 Swamy diksha 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 purposes while on duty. The police higher officials had denied permission, citing the department rules.