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| File picture of a personal security officer on duty |
Guwahati, Feb 17 : Several hundred policemen deployed as personal security officers and house guards to protect political leaders, businessmen and VIPs have been withdrawn by Dispur to tide over staff crunch during anti-terror and law and order operations.
The security personnel were called back from various districts following a directive by the state security review committee and more will be withdrawn once the panel submits its assessment report.
The committee comprises the home commissioner, the inspector-general of police (Special Branch), the inspector-general of police (security) and range deputy inspector-generals, among others.
Though manpower crunch in the police is the immediate cause of the decision, sources said the security personnel were also unhappy with the nature of the job and alleged ill-treatment at hands of the persons they are attached to.
Nearly 7,000 police personnel are currently deployed as personal security officers and house guards to protect VIPs, leading citizens and a number of retired government and police officials.
“There must be 12 to 15 people on an average in every district who move around with personal security officers. We want to find out if all these personnel are actually required. Therefore, we have asked for a review of the real requirement by the Special Branch of the police. At places where withdrawal is not possible, we will scale down the personal security cover. Besides threats, we will also assess the conduct of those enjoying such cover,” a source in the chief minister’s office said.
Before providing security to a person, the review committee asks the superintendent of police of that district to make an assessment and submit its report.
“Of late, however, more and more applicants are seeking personal security officers, either to assert their importance or citing a threat perception. This needs to be checked, as it hampers our routine duty. The personal security officers should not be provided to all and sundry,” a police official said.
“The state has over 60,000 personnel but this strength needs to be increased by at least 50 per cent. Ideally, there should be 300 policemen for every lakh people,” he added.
The move has already left the politicians and businessmen who had been enjoying such cover hassled, fearing attacks from militants.
“I don’t know about the rest, but my mobility will be seriously affected if my cover is withdrawn or scaled down. The assessment should be fair,” a businessman said.
With elections round the corner, a politician accused the state government of trying to check electioneering by influential political leaders from the Opposition parties.
“This is an indirect warning to us not to go around electioneering. Manpower crunch is not a new problem. The timing reflects the intention of the government,” he said.
A source, however, termed such reactions as “expected”.
“Those genuinely facing a threat will be protected,” the official said.
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