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A spontaneous salute by a cop leads to a debate in Kerala

KOZHIKODE: When Nisar A, the senior civil police officer attached to the control room, saluted the brave rescuers of the Karipur plane tragedy he might not have thought of its implications.


The photographs of the officer saluting the members of the rescue team who are quarantined at Kondotty after the relief works went viral in the social media.



While many found it a rare gesture of gratitude, some found it inappropriate for a police officer saluting the civilians. It is learnt that the higher authorities have ordered an inquiry into the incident and have sought a report. “There was no official communication to the officer to do so. He did it spontaneously,” a senior police officer told TOI.

The police team was checking the quarantine centres and found the members of the rescue team there. “He saluted them impulsively as a goodwill gesture and there is no need to read any other meaning into it,” the officer said.

Meanwhile, DIG (Kannur) K Sethuraman , who had earlier served as Malappuram district police chief , said the people of the district are extremely sincere. “The district has a population of more than 40 lakhs but it is easy to manage them. You just need to be impartial,” he said.

“This was proved during the state school arts festival in Malappuram in 2013. You give sincerity to them and you will get it doubled in return,” he said.

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