Kerala Police's Modern Systems Meet Ground Reality of Basic Lathi

Kerala Police have invested in artificial intelligence, cyber policing and integrated digital systems to modernise the force. Yet officers confronting violent or unpredictable accused in the field often depend on the lathi as their primary tool.

At least six reported incidents involving police and prison personnel in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram over two months have highlighted this gap. State Police Chief Ravada Chandrasekhar acknowledged the need to improve professional handling of violent suspects and announced training based on real-life scenarios including arrests and encounters with aggressive individuals. District-level officers have been instructed to conduct exercises and ensure personnel are familiar with protective equipment.

Former state police chief T P Senkumar questioned whether such preparedness can match the evolving nature of violence officers face. He noted that frontline personnel have limited equipment compared to the range of situations they encounter.