TRIVANDRUM, 17 August 2004 — Cops at the Malayinkizhu police station on the outskirts of the city are in a dilemma. A parrot they “arrested” a year ago is welcoming everyone who comes to the station in true Kerala police style...using every available four letter word and police bosses are no bar.
One cannot blame Mittu, the parrot. He is a quick learner who has seen the best of both worlds. He was the conscience-keeper of master thief Poocha Saju, Saju the “Cat”, before he came into police custody.
Saju had trained him well to keep a watchful eye on “suspected elements,” especially the cops. Trailing the notorious criminal, the police had to confront his close confidante on several occasions.
“We were duped several times by this bird,” said Jnana Das, the sub-inspector of the police station explaining that it took several days for the policemen to understand that the parrot was really helping the criminal to give a slip from the police dragnet.
“Run run, police police... The bird had been trained well to spot us from a long distance and chirp,” he said.
Taken into “custody” for his dubious roles, (his former employer was netted only recently), “Mittu” was quick enough to learn the police “language”. “When he gets angry he keeps chirping four letter words with ease,” lamented a constable who feeds him.
Worried, the cops have almost stopped using expletives, at least before the little winged guest. “No doubt, it has helped us a lot to reform,” a policeman admitted grudgingly. But there is another side to it. Despite the nuisance created by “Mittu,” the policemen are now in no mood to part with their friend. “We don’t know what to do? We cannot free him because untrained in natural surroundings he will become a prey to bigger birds,” another policeman said.
But of course, there is a sliver lining: Senior police officials are aware of “Mittu” and its new abode.
