The Sampadak Express News Desk
Karnataka will replace rust-prone metal whistle chains and uniform buttons with whistle guards and matte-finish buttons for police personnel, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced at a Police Martyrs’ Day programme in Bengaluru, The Hindu reported.
The change is intended to improve comfort and protect the health of police personnel, particularly those in lower ranks who wear uniforms for long hours on duty.
According to the report, metal accessories on police uniforms are susceptible to rust due to changing weather conditions. This can leave stubborn stains on uniforms, damage fabric and potentially cause skin-related problems among personnel.
The Karnataka State Police Complaints Authority has repeatedly written to the Home Department and the Director General and Inspector General of Police urging the adoption of more practical alternatives to the current metal chains and buttons.
Authority member Mohan Kumar Danappa noted that several States — including Sikkim, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Telangana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Kerala, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir — have already introduced whistle guards and matte-finish buttons for their police forces.
While some States use khaki-coloured whistle guards and others opt for blue, the accessories proposed in Karnataka are expected either to match the navy-blue peak caps recently introduced for lower-rank personnel or to be in another colour approved by the department.
The introduction of navy-blue peak caps replaced the older British-era headgear for lower-rank staff. The earlier caps were reported to be uncomfortable, particularly during summer and over prolonged duty hours.
As part of the Police Commemoration Day observance, Mr. Shivakumar paid tribute to police personnel who died in the line of duty at the Central Police Headquarters in Bengaluru.
The department is expected to finalise colours in line with the recent uniform changes, with whistle guards and matte-finish buttons set to replace the existing metal accessories.
