Punjab govt reviews security cover to protectees

The Punjab Home Department has undertaken another security cover review of the protection given to VVIP's and VIP's within and outside the state, following the Supreme Court directions.
The new exercise will be completed within next few days officials sources said today adding, the case will come up before the Supreme Court on March 14.
On February 15, the Supreme Court asked the Centre, all states and union territories to furnish details of expenses incurred on providing security to various categories of persons including people with criminal background and kith and kin of VVIPs.
In the first exercise, more than 4,500 cops were pulled out from security duties as per the information provided by the state government to the apex court, they said.

The sources said more than 700 individuals are presently having 2,000 to 2,500 cops on their security duty.
The list of protectees whose security cover is to be pruned, has already been prepared and the review exercise is nearing completion, they said.

According to sources, the state police have also identified a large number of protectees who continue to enjoy security cover over and above the norms.
The Department of Home is also reviewing the threat perception of each individual and other reason for giving them security cover to ensure its stand before the Supreme court remains undisputed.
The state police have a1so formulated a new policy under which only protectees in Z plus category or some exceptional cases facing high threat perception, wou1d be provided commandos in security cover.

Beside commandos, cops from Indian Reserve Battalion and the Punjab Armed Police would be requisitioned for security duty.
According to an official record, of the total 19,000 personnel of IRB and PAP about 5,000 are commandos.