Bhubaneswar: An officer of Odisha Police, known for cracking down on criminals, has been ordered to immediately change his striking flaming red hair back to its natural colour after photos of him in uniform went viral, sparking a meme fest online.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Rashmi Ranjan Das, who serves in Jagatsinghpur district was formally warned by senior officials on Thursday following the social media storm that erupted on Wednesday.
IG (Central Range) Satyajit Naik issued the directive, emphasising that members of the police force must uphold the dignity of the uniform with strict adherence to discipline and public decorum. “One in the police force should respect the uniform and accord utmost priority to discipline and public decorum,” TOI reported, quoting Naik.
The flamboyant hair colour, which 49-year-old Das had been sporting for some time, suddenly drew intense scrutiny when images circulated rapidly online. Critics lambasted the look as unprofessional, with one widely shared post questioning whether such “an awful hair colour and look” befitted a uniformed officer. Others argued that a flashy appearance undermined the authority and seriousness the khaki uniform symbolises.
Despite Das’s reputation as a “terror for criminals” and a scourge of the underworld, police sources revealed he had previously ignored informal suggestions to dye his hair black.
The report, quoting retired officer SN Swain, further stated that though police manual does not explicitly dictate hairstyles, it expects overall simplicity and restraint.
Das, currently assigned to the human rights protection cell, declined to comment on the matter, it added.
