The Bengaluru Police Commissioner, B Dayananda, has issued a stern warning to his officers regarding the posting of unrelated videos on social media while in uniform. This directive comes in response to a growing trend of police officers sharing videos, often featuring dance routines or other non-professional content, on platforms like Instagram Reels.
The Commissioner’s circular, issued on Monday, emphasizes the potential damage such actions can inflict on the police department’s reputation. He argues that the public perception of the department, known for its discipline and commitment, could be negatively affected by such lighthearted content. The circular specifically cites instances of officers dancing in police stations as examples of inappropriate behavior.
To address this issue, the Commissioner has instructed the Bengaluru Police’s social media wing to actively monitor online platforms for such videos. Any officer found posting inappropriate content while in uniform will face strict disciplinary action.
This crackdown on social media activity by police officers follows a series of similar incidents involving other public sector employees. In May, a bus driver and conductor from the Northwestern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) were suspended after a video of them performing a dance routine on duty went viral. The corporation justified the suspension by stating that the video portrayed the department in a negative light.
Earlier this year, 38 medical students from the Gadag Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) were penalized for recording Reels on hospital premises. Similarly, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundurao dismissed a doctor for conducting a pre-wedding photoshoot in an operating theater at a Chitradurga government hospital.
The Bengaluru Police Commissioner’s directive underscores the importance of maintaining professionalism and decorum, especially in the context of social media where content can quickly spread and influence public perception. It serves as a reminder that the actions of individual officers have the potential to impact the entire department’s image.
