It is ‘asteen’ (sleeve) of police uniform in time of coronavirus that has drawn the attention of the senior cops of the police headquarters in Ranchi.
IG provisions has written a letter where there is a protocol for wearing sleeve whose size depends upon seasons like winter and summer as if in winter the size of the sleeve gets full hand length it gets shortened in summer up to or slightly above the elbow.
The protocol is to wear ‘bund asteen’ (official term) full sleeve uniform from 15.11.2019 to 15.3.2020. This protocol is applied to cops down to DGP. The winter police uniform is woolen.
Again the protocol is to wear ‘asteen moora’ (rolled sleeve) slightly above elbow on/ from March 16 onwards. This is equally applicable to cops and DGP even. This rolled size sleeve is for summer where the uniform is to be of cotton.
Police sources said this protocol has failed because of great weather changing in the State where even on March 20 people prefer to stand in the Sun in the morning to beat pink of winter. Blankets are the in thing at night for sleep. Fear of coronavirus further makes one to cover hands and feet more said sources.
The IG provisions has sent its copies to every SP and DIGs and other ranks to follow this uniform protocol.
Sources said this practice is age old but with fear of coronavirus all around sleeve is a vital thing now.
Government of India persuades people not to sneeze or cough in open or in any form where hands are cupped but to sneeze and cough right with mouth down towards the bended elbow where full sleeve shirt will work as a wall and here right from cops to DGP are to wear a rolled out sleeve leaving their elbows to open risk.A cop said, “I wear rolled sleeve uniform. I have no option but to cough or sneeze right in open as I have no tissue paper with me. I will not use hanky too.”
SP Palamu Ajay Linda agreed in principle that sleeve protocol be relaxed in times like this and cops and officials be allowed to wear full sleeve uniform called in police jargon bund asteen but said, “Let there come a directive from police head quarter.”
IG of police Ranchi Navin Kumar Singh when approached said, “The issue is relevant but only state spokesperson of police will be able to tell on this matter.”
IG provisions Vipul Shukla on being contacted who had issued this sleeve protocol letter on 16.3.2020 vide memo number 1831/TS, Office of DGP Jharkhand said, “This matter needs to be re-looked in the wake of the current health situation.”ADG Murari Lal Meena said, “There is a great substance that has been raised with the size of sleeve of police uniform and I believe not much time be spent to take a final call on it ( read to again switch over to bund asteen that is full sleeve uniform”Meena sounded too inclined to have a return to ‘bund asteen’ of police uniform.