Chhattisgarh ministers' security pruned

Raipur, Sep 30 (UNI) The security detail of Chhattisgarh ministers has been pruned and the leaders left with only the number of police personnel they are entitled to.

Highly-placed sources in the police department told UNI today that eight ministers, including Revenue, Law and Tourism Minister Brijmohan Agrawal and School Education Minister Ajay Chandrakar were affected. Security for former ministers and MLAs who do not fall into any security grade had been curtailed. The decision was made after the security arrangements began to be viewed as status symbols.

The Union Home Ministry expressed dissatisfaction over such excess deployment and demanded steps against it. The security detail of ministers and other public representatives is subjected to periodic review on the basis of intelligence reports and other sources.

While preparations are underway to deploy the withdrawn personnel in naxalism-affected areas, the ministers and legislators complained to Chief Minister Raman Singh against Director-General of Police Vishwaranjan.

UNI