Bengaluru: More than 50,000 policemen across the State have applied for leave on June 4 in protest against the harassment by senior officers in the name of discipline, meager salary, no proper leaves and other issues related to work.

According to sources, police heads of all districts have directed the police station haeds not to grant the ‘harassment leave’ on June 4.

V. Shashidhar, the Founder President of Akhila Karnataka Police Maha Sangha told Deccan Chronicle that the movement gained momentum after a few policemen approached him with the plan of protesting against the system.

“They told me that all the policemen should go on leave on the same day to pass a strong message to the government and they requested me to lead the movement, as there is no proper forum to fight for the rights of policemen. Then I started working towards it and it gained support from thousands of policemen and also various other organisations,” Shashidhar said.

He said that the protest is against every issue faced by the 65,000 policemen in the State.  He also said that as the leave won’t be granted by the higher officers, the policemen won’t turn up for duty that day.

“However, they won’t come on streets to protest as they belong to disciplinary force. Instead, we are requesting their family members to protest on behalf of them. Also, various organisations like Karnataka Rakshana Vedike have supported our cause and will join hands with us,” he added.