Jayalalithaa urges action against PM's security official

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Sunday demanded action against a Special Protection Group (SPG) official for stopping the state director general of police (DGP) from receiving Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) airport.

In a letter to the prime minister Aug 3 - the text of which was released to the media here Sunday - Jayalalithaa said: "I have been informed that at Tiruchirappalli Airport, when the director general of police of Tamil Nadu was walking towards the ladder point of the aircraft to receive you along with the Hon'ble Ministers from Tamil Nadu, chief secretary and collector Tiruchirappalli, (the DGP) was rudely accosted and prevented from approaching the aircraft by a lower level officer of the Special Protection Group, who was part of the security team on duty."

Manmohan Singh visited Tamil Nadu Aug 2 to inaugurate Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd's (BHEL) piping unit at Thirumayam in Pudukottai district, 375 km from here.

Jayalalithaa said the incident occurred despite DGP K. Ramanujam being in uniform.

"It would also be pertinent to point out that it was the very same director general of police who was responsible for the elaborate security arrangements to ensure a peaceful, trouble free atmosphere during your visit to Tamil Nadu," Jayalalithaa said.