Ruckus On WhatsApp Group: A new controversy has emerged in Kerala. Many IPS officers of Kerala cadre joined a new WhatsApp group named 'Mallu Hindu Adhikari' on 31st October i.e. Diwali. This group included only Hindu officers of the cadre. It was made from the phone number of IAS officer K Gopalakrishnan.
This was immediately objected to, with many officials finding it inappropriate and against secular principles. The WhatsApp group was deleted a day later, with Gopalakrishnan claiming that his phone had been hacked. He said that several groups were formed using his contacts without his consent. It is learned that the officer has also lodged a police complaint in this regard.
Senior IPS officer had secretly met RSS people
According to a Times of India report, the incident follows another high-profile controversy involving senior IPS officer Ajit Kumar. Kumar was removed from the post of ADGP (Law and Order). In fact, it was revealed that he had allegedly secretly met senior RSS officials without the knowledge of the LDF government in Kerala.
Although the government has not officially acknowledged this as the reason for his transfer, Kumar was forced to transfer after LDF ally CPI took a tough stance on it.
'Forming groups on religious basis is a new thing'
“There are many WhatsApp groups among officers, but creating WhatsApp groups on religious lines is a new thing,” a senior officer told The Times of India on condition of anonymity. He said separate WhatsApp groups among junior and senior officers have been created for different services and there are other groups based on different considerations including language, but many of them are largely passive in nature. However, a group formed explicitly on religious lines was unprecedented.
A senior intelligence officer, on condition of anonymity, also revealed that the agency was alerted about the group by some officers who were linked to it. These officers gave evidence, which prompted the agency to take the matter seriously and prepare a report. Intelligence agencies at both the state and central levels are now investigating the matter.
