They are Punjab’s best protected. All 1,412 of them. As many as 4,535 police personnel guard the state’s VVIPs round-the-clock but henceforth, those enjoying the security perk will not be able to take their protectors out of the state while travelling, thanks to a recent order to the effect.
According to sources, the security wing of the state police on August 27 issued instructions to all Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), Commissioners, Range DIGs and Zonal IGs besides Punjab Armed Police that from now on, it will be the responsibility of the concerned officer guarding a VIP to ensure that if the VIP goes out of the state, he will intimate the security wing about it so that he can accompany the one protected.
However, the security person can only accompany the VIP out of the state for a maximum of 72 hours, after which they will have to return and report to the concerned battalion or unit. “Now no minister, chief parliamentary secretary, senior police or civil officers will be allowed to take their escort vehicles out of the state, not even to Delhi. This will hold true even for official visits,” said a senior official. Speaking to The Sunday Standard, Inspector General of Police (Security) Sanjeev Kalra said, “We have issued these orders in compliance with Supreme Court guidelines.”
Sources said only those who get Z-category protection will be allowed to take security cover out of the state that also after informing the concerned state police and security wing. Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is also the state home minister, earlier this year cut down the number of security personnel provided to VIPs and other influential people. Punjab Police security has been provided, among others, to former Haryana CM Om Prakash Chautala, Himachal MP and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) president Anurag Thakur, Akali Dal Delhi unit chief Manjit Singh GK and others. Instructions have been issued to impound vehicles that were found using red beacon without authorisation.
A notification issued recently by the transport department states the facility will be available to 13 categories. The dignitaries authorised to use red beacons include the Governor, Chief Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Minister of State, Deputy Ministers, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, Parliamentary Secretaries, Chief Justice and Judges of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Member of Parliament, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, MLAs and the Chief Secretary, among others.
It has also been clarified that in case vehicles with red light atop was not carrying the dignitary, then such a red light would not be used and kept covered. All eligible dignitaries have been requested to deposit their old stickers and get the new stickers issued.