Almost 1300 police officers with mafia-corruption links will be thrown out of local police stations. The report was published in yesterday's Keralakaumudi print edition. The move is a welcome one that gives more hope about the long-talked cleansing act inside the forces. The chief of police already commented about wanting to make the police station an abode of hope rather than fear. Police officers below the ranks of SI will be initially transferred as part of the process.

The special branch officer made an inquisition into every police station within Kerala. The character report of many police officers was analyzed and further study from Vigilance opened about their links with criminal and mafia gangs. Likewise, gang criminals are also extending their powerful tentacles to the ministers in the cabinet. It should be alarm bells for the home ministry, and a chance to save face with prudent actions rather than waiting for worse to happen. The police officers who completed three years in one station will be subjected to transfer, it is mandatory. Along with this, the tainted officers with criminal backgrounds will be given punishment transfers to places out of their hometowns.

Meanwhile, there are some pickles surrounding the move. Officers with clean records and the ones who have proved their mettle should be seated in the same station devoid of any transfers. Unnecessary transfers may drag down their excellence in the field later stooping to desultory. Also, the transfers of tainted officers alone won't make the police station a safe haven for the public to approach. There are many higher-ranked officers with big nexus with gang criminals. Such ones need to be nipped or else the current move may turn redundant.

There are 484 police stations in Kerala. With the burgeoning population count in the state, the need for more police stations will pop up in near future. However, the officers work in languor over the tedious 10 hours and more. The government three years before vouched to cut short the timings to eight hours but seldom approached it with intent. The state needs 30000 more officers and PSC can do the thing in haste if the government approves. If the void is filled, the government can easily make the police work only eight hours. More appointments of women if done will surely be the icing on the cake.