The Kerala Police have withdrawn a controversial circular seeking monthly deductions from the salary of all personnel attached to the Kozhikode city police to meet the administrative expenses of a temple run by the force. Additional Director General of Police (law and order) M R Ajith Kumar Sunday directed Kozhikode Police Commissioner Rajpal Meena to withdraw the direction he had issued on July 19, said an official release from the police headquarters. The decision to withdraw the directive came in the wake of resentment among a section of police personnel in Kozhikode. The centuries-old Sree Bhadrakali Temple at Muthalakkulam in Kozhikode city has been controlled by the police, with the city police commissioner as the president of the administrative committee. On June 19, the commissioner issued a circular informing all police personnel in the city limits that the temple committee had decided to deduct Rs 20 every month from their salary towards the administrative expenses of the temple. It said details of police personnel reluctant to contribute their share for the temple should be furnished with the commissioner’s office on July 24. A section of police personnel, according to sources, was annoyed with the directive to single out those not contributing to the temple. Once known as Sree Annapoorneshwari Temple, the place of worship was renovated and renamed Sree Bhadrakali Temple in 2011. Before Independence, it was one of the places of worship handled by uniformed forces to meet the religious needs of the personnel. The administration of a mosque and church in the city, which had been with the police, was later handed over to the respective communities. However, the temple remained with the police force that used to chip in for its management voluntarily. However, the practice was stopped due to protests from within the police force two years ago.
