Police escort and pilot vehicles that race through busy roads, pressing horns endlessly, to make way for ministers' carcade will be a thing of past in Kerala. Ministers, including Chief Minister, will have only one security officer on guard unless in emergency situations.
Towing in line with the Left Democratic Front government’s decision to reduce security cover for ministers, the State Security Review Commission has directed to cut police escort and pilot vehicles. The LDF cabinet had decied to reach out to the public without the heavy police cover and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is also holding the Home portfolio, was of the opinion that the police escort and escort vehicles are unwanted.
The commission decided on Thursday to stop the practise of keeping a pilot vehicle ahead of minister's car and also to reduce police escort to bare minimum. A security officer will follow ministers in their vehicles unless it is warranted otherwise. It also decided to withdraw 'Z Plus ' category security cover to former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. He will retain Z category security.
The Commission also ordered to cancel the security provided to Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) general secretary Vellappally Natesan. Six police officials in charge of Natesan will be withdrawn. However, the SNDP leader, will have security by central forces, which is provided to him after intelligent reports of terrorist threat on his life.
Earlier, E Chandrashekharan, Kerala Revenue Minister had termed police escort "too much of a burden and a thing of the past that should have been dumped long back."
Also read: Kerala Minister calls police escort antiquated, wants it dumped
