Rajasthan cops went on mass leave allegedly supporting protests against a suspected salary cut after the Seventh Pay Commission’s recommendations are implemented. Among them were around eight policemen assigned for the Union minister’s guard of honour.

Director general of police Ajit Singh had asked officers to interact with the protesting constables and dispel rumours about a pay cut. He also appealed to the policemen not to believe rumours spread through social media.

However Rajasthan policemen skipping a guard of honour for visiting Union home minister Rajnath Singh in Jodhpur on Monday will face an inquiry and could face punitive action.

Jodhpur police commissioner Ashok Rathore said on Tuesday an inquiry will be conducted to ascertain the role of more than 250 policemen who didn’t report for duty the previous day.

“They attended the morning parade but weren’t present after that. These men had an array of duties related to law and order and naturally all these were affected,” Rathore said.

Rajasthan Policemen in the state were adopting various methods of protest such as shaving their heads and boycotting food served in the official mess.