CHANDIGARH: About 20% of Punjab’s Police force is engaged in VIP duties protecting politicians and influential private citizens all at the expense of the state. What is remarkable about the diversion of resources is that the security guards provided by the state Govt extends mostly to those politicians who are making no contribution to help solve the problem but have also become politically irrelevant among the masses whose interest they are supposed to safeguard.
Senior police officers here are particularly perturbed that the police force on VIP duty can practically be written off for all time to come. Their proximity to politicians and influential citizens would have exposed them to indiscipline making them into non-professionals without any accountability the officers say.
The magnitude of the force and the money involved can be gauged from the statistics. Twenty percent of the state police force that is 15000 men and 4000 Special police officers with about 250 police jeeps are devoted to protecting about 1000 politicians and private citizens at an expense of about Rs 50 million per year. In addition 43% of the 50000 strong police force is engaged in guarding government buildings and other vulnerable points like bridges and dams and escorting VIPs This involves about 350 escort vehicles.
Significantly sources in the state Govt estimate that 75% of these 1000 so-called VIPs do not face any threat. They are not relevant to the Punjab problem and have sought the security as a status symbol. About 40 to 45% these VIPs are not politicians. Virtually all state and district level leaders of the Congress BJP CPI and CPM parties that have lost support in Punjab have either Govt escort vehicles or personal police guards or both.
The security extends to almost all former MLAs and MPs.
Interestingly security has been provided to senior Akali leaders and all the 13 MPs 10 of whom owe allegiance to Akali Dal and are regarded close to the militants.
Ironically most Akali politicians surrounded by police guards seize every opportunity to condemn the police and hail the militants.
According to officers an example of the waste of money and manpower is the case of Mahant Sewa Das president of the nonexistent Pheruman Akali Dal. This one man institution has been provided with two police jeeps 32 security men and three drivers.
Parkash Singh Badal is the most protected man in the state with 57 security guards 3 jeeps and one bullet proof car. The guards have been drawn from Punjab Police Chandigarh Police CRPF and even Haryana Police. Devi Lal has specially allotted a bullet-proof car from the central pool.
Another politician provided a bullet proof car is the former chief minister Sujit Singh Barnala who is back after his stint as TN governor.
A social service leader from Amritsar Mrs Laxi Kant Chawla had till last year been provided with two policemen now suddenly has two vehicles full of armed guards. Many others have found this free method of transport.
Two editors VN Naryanan and Prem Kumar have big CRPF contingents protecting them.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 8, 1991
