a day ago
Karnataka police to wear blue peak caps once again
Bengaluru: In a nod to the long-standing demand from police ranks, chief minister Siddaramaiah approved the introduction of blue peak caps for constables, head constables and assistant sub-inspectors.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The announcement, made Friday, marks a significant uniform change for the state's lower-rung police personnel.
Interestingly, the blue peak cap is not new to Karnataka police. It was first introduced in the early 1980s by then CM Gundu Rao, replacing the colonial-era khaki slouch hats. However, the caps were short-lived, vanishing within six months due to discomfort and practicality issues.
Despite a recent committee led by ADGP-KSRP Umesh Kumar recommending against replacing the existing slouch hats, the govt chose to move forward with the change, citing persistent requests from personnel on the ground.
The new design is modelled on the Telangana police cap, selected after reviewing caps from several states including Maharashtra, Delhi, Goa and Tamil Nadu.
"The slouch hat has been part of the constabulary uniform since British era, but many officers find it outdated and uncomfortable," a senior IPS officer said, adding: "The demand for change has been strong, but whether this new cap will stand the test of time remains to be seen."
The govt is expected to place an order for over 85,000 blue peak caps to cover all eligible personnel within the department's nearly 1 lakh-strong workforce.
