Caste consciousness is rising not only in college campuses but even among the law enforcement agencies in certain states. The kitchens of a police station in Patna are allegedly divided and named on the basis of castes.
"We have separate kitchens for Yadavs, Rajputs, Bhumihars, Brahmins and Harijans. These are the names given to different kitchens," Mahesh Shah a cook with the Patna police line said.
Allegedly, 'dalit kitchen' is the only place where dalit cops are allowed to have their meals.
"There is a separate kitchen for the dalits. They can have meals there," Police Constable Ramparveesh Kumar said.
Kitchens divided on castes, is a tradition that has been followed for the past many years in the police stations in Bihar, said sources.
The high-level police officials deny the allegation though. Kundan Krishnan Senior SP, Patna said, "There are no separate caste kitchens. We've separate kitchens for the simple reason that cooks can manage food for only 50 people at a time. This gives way to the division."
On one hand where Chief Minister Nitish Kumar plans to give an image makeover to the police force of the state, an explicit caste divide issue remains overlooked.
