Thiruvananthapuram: DGP Loknath Behera who is retiring from service got emotional while addressing the farewell ceremony. The police department organised a farewell programme to the DGP at Peroorkkada SP ground here on Wednesday.

Addressing the gathering at the ceremony, he stated that he is a Malayalee by heart. “I didn’t wear dhoti and speak Malayalam to impress anyone,” he said.

“I’m retiring from Indian Police Service after 36 years of long service. I am not sad. Every person will experience recruitment, posting, promotion and exit. This moment is unavoidable in life," stated Behera.

I have faced ups and downs while serving as state police chief. But I was not disappointed over the downs. I was always keen to overcome it. And that’s my philosophy for work, he added.

Though he started his speech expressing that he is not sad about retirement, he turned emotional while explaining about his days in Kerala. “I have turned a Malayalee by heart. I eat idiyappam, puttu and dosa. I speak Malayalam and visit temples clad in dhoti. I didn’t do these things as a show-off. All these practices got into my heart. I’m grateful to the people and officials in Kerala,” he said.