CHANDIGARH: Given the changed law and order scenario in Punjab the government is reviewing all cases of individual security in the state it is learned. Officers of the rank of Additional Director-General and Inspector-General of the police are believed to have been deputed to assess and check the security needs of every individual at the micro level and submit a report to the government. It has been observed that providing individual security cost the exchanger nearly Rs 70 crore per annum Not only are a couple of hundred of Gypsies tied up in this exercise but to a lot of manpower is bound own.

Individuals who have been provided security come from all walks of life and include a large number of retired officials  is being increasingly felt that having a retinue gun-toting cops has become more a “status symbol” than necessity. For making the detailed assessment the two officers -Sube Singh and S.K. Verma assigned the task have been asked to make old visits as well.

Queries which earlier the government was hesitant to put to the notice are now being asked and answers sought.

In this context it is learned that the government wanted to know how many and what type of weapons were the malkhan as of police stations the districts. The weapons had been seized by the security forces from the militants.

In fact the Center had recently sought the state’s views even on the creation of posts of Additional Director General of Police Taking a cue from that the police department submitted 3 proposals to the home department whereby 11 names were proposed for promotion to the rank of ADGP. It’s believed that not much justification has been found in the proposal. Police rules have been quoted for judicial opinion in the matter.

Meanwhile it is learned that the government is veering around to the theory that the security provided (o the individuals should be cither”to1al” or withdrawn. “The Principal Secretary Home NK Arora confirmed that review” of the cases of individual security was being done and the exercise might take   least six months.

All through President’s rule the state got money from the Center in the name of fighting a proxy war with Pakistan and the “insurgency.” No additional resources were raised.

Consequently the state’s debt mounted to Rs 6000 crore. The amount payable to the Center now is around Rs5500crore. The Chief Minister has demanded that the Center should waive that in view of the fact that state had fought “Nation’s war” against external aggression and internal disturbances

The Chief Minister has been taken into confidence for cutting down the number of cases of individual security.

Article extracted from this publication >> January 21, 1994