Security cut of 244 Punjab leaders frees 550 policemen

A number of leaders, including those of Congress, will have to do with no police security; next list of VIPs also being prepared

CHANDIGARH: After security revision of VIPs in Punjab, nearly 550 cops guarding 244 politicians of different parties have been ordered to join their respective battalions with immediate effect.

As per the copy of the order accessed by Hindustan Times, security of many leaders, including those of the Congress, has been withdrawn completely. As per the order, the security of many SAD leaders has been pruned drastically and not withdrawn fully keeping in mind the threat perception.

Former AKali MLAs, including Darshan Singh Kotfatta, Deep Malhotra, Gobind Singh Longowal, Hira Singh Zira, Harpreet Kaur Mukhmailpur, Hapreet Singh Kotbhai, Prem Mittal, Deep Dhillon, Manpreet Ayali, Ranjit Singh Dhillon,Shivram Kaler, Varinder Kaur Lumba, Avinash Chander, Darshan Singh Shivalik, Jeet Mohinder Sidhu, Justice Nirmal Singh, will now get only two cops each for security.

Former BJP MLA Arunesh Shakar, former ministers Upinderjit Kaur and Hira Singh Gabria, former Akali MLAs Jagdeep Nakai and Ajit Singh Shant will have zero security from the government.

Former ministers Bhagat Chunni Lal, Surjit Kumar Jyani, Anil Joshi and Madan Mohan Mittal of BJP and Daljeet Singh Cheema, Gulzar Singh Ranike, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Sohan Lal Thandal, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Tota Singh (all from SAD) will get four cops each. Sikander Singh Maluka, one of the most controversial ministers in the previous government, will get six cops to guard him.

Controversial SAD leader and Muktsar district president of the party, Dyal Singh Kolianwali, whose name has also figured in the infamous cotton seed scam, has been allotted four cops. Another Akali leader Tejinder Singh Midukhera will get two cops for security.

Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Badal’s close aides who faced full security cut, include his OSD Paramjit Singh Sidhwan, Parambans Singh Bunty Romana and Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon.

The security of advisers and officers on special duty (OSDs) to former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and the deputy CM Sukhbir Badal to has been cut to bare minimum — Harcharan Bains (2), Jangvir Singh (1), Charanjit Brar (1), Kamal Oswal (3), Bhupinder Dhillon (2), Parminder Singh Sekhon (3) and Tikshan Sud (3).

“Security has been reviewed on the basis of reports about threat perception to the leaders. Leaders may have been controversial, but it becomes duty of the state to protect them to avoid unnecessary problems,” said a top police official involved in the process.

Congress leaders who lost security include Jasvir Singh Khangura from Ludhiana, Bhupinder Singh Gora from Bathinda, Harinder Pal Harry Maan and Manisha Gulati. Former IAS officers Darbara Singh Guru, Amarjit Singh Sidhu (both SAD leaders) will have with them three policemen each .

“This deployment is not permanent. Security is reviewed at regular intervals. Next list of security cut is also being prepared,” said an ADGP-ranked officer.