From patrols to posts, Kerala police officers ‘command’ attention online

KOCHI: He may wear his khaki uniform to work, but on Instagram, deputy inspector general (DIG) Yathish Chandra G H speaks a language far from traditional police briefings. With more than 160 posts and 115,000 followers, the officer has become one of Kerala police’s most visible faces on the platform — sharing glimpses of policing and public life

Yathish is not alone. From S Sreejith to P Vijayan and Nidhinraj, a growing group of state IPS officers have massive audiences on Instagram, while officers such as Manoj Abraham and Karthick have an active presence on Facebook.

Moreover, Kerala police’s official Instagram account has now crossed 2.3 million followers, turning the force itself into a social-media powerhouse.

The platform is increasingly becoming another public-facing service for the police.

Cyber expert Nandakishore Harikumar sees this as a significant shift in the way policing can engage with society.

“For someone who wants to reach out to a police officer, social media can provide direct outreach. It is a good thing for good governance,” he said.

“This is a very good way to engage the younger generation. Allowing them to develop greater trust in the police. There was an impression that the force was somewhat distant or negative, and social media can help completely change that impression,” Nandakishore added. According to him, the possibilities extend beyond digital policing.

‘There’s nothing wrong with using social media to reach more people’

“Digital policing is not the only possibility. We can bring in a very strong concept of social media for social governance. Kerala police’s page is very popular, and the way they intervene and respond to people is at another level,” he said.

Nandakishore also pointed to the growing social-media presence of IAS officers, citing former officer Prashant Nair and the popularity of the ‘Collector Bro’ identity. “There is nothing wrong with using social media to become more public-facing and reach more people,” he said. For policing, he believes the digital connection has become essential.

“Policing needs social media because the police need to understand the pulse of the people and know what they are thinking. The era of the distant police officer is over. Now, it is time for the ‘Police Bro,’” he added.

Former state police chief Loknath Behera has witnessed the transformation from its early stages. He recalled how Kerala police’s Facebook page overtook the New York Police Department in followers in 2019.

“When I was DGP, we created a record on Facebook. At that time, the New York Police Department was number one in the world in terms of followers. Kerala Police overtook them and received an award,” Behera said.

He recalled how social media became particularly important during the floods. There were times when the force produced nearly 400 videos, around 100 of which went viral.

“Policing in Kerala is different from other states, and that is why social media is important for us,” he said. “If it is an individual account, there should not be a feeling that the officer is promoting himself. Anything that helps inform the public is good,” Behera said.