Pruning on, 585 cops no more on VIP duty

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 26

At least 585 policemen on security duty with politicians and their aides are now available for general policing following the pruning of security. The number is expected to swell further.

The development is part of the Congress government’s move to curtail the VIP culture where security guards had become a means to show off one’s status and harass the public.

The details of the withdrawn security are stated in an interim report of a committee headed by DGP (Law and Order) HS Dhillon to review security to constitutional and public functionaries.

The report submitted to DGP Suresh Arora lists details of the political leaders, including former elected members, their staff and advisers who were given security seven to eight times more than allowed as per rules.

Arora said the report would be submitted to the government soon after the pruning of security. “The first phase involved leaders of all political parties. The committee is analysing security given to certain other individuals now.”

The government has already withdrawn security from former Akali leaders and some sitting MPs. Prominent among them are Akali leaders Sikander Singh Maluka, who had 31 guards, Gulzar Singh Ranike and Surjit Singh Rakhra, who had 18 and 17 guards, respectively.

Those spared are top Akali leaders, including former CM Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and former Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia as they are availing Z-plus security.