Centre withdraws security cover given to twenty-four VIPs

New Delhi, Aug 29 (ANI): As part of its comprehensive review and rationalisation of the VIP security system, the Union Home Ministry has withdrawn X-category security over of over twenty-four individuals,

The Ministry also decided to reduce the number of personal security officers (PSOs) from three to two to be deployed for X category security.

After the review former Chief Justice of India Y. K. Sabharwal, former MP and Bollywood Star Govinda, former MP Anwar Hussain, UP politician D.P.Yadav, Shoaib Iqbal MLA from Matia Mahal in Delhi, and two Delhi-based journalists and some local leaders from different northeastern states will lose security cover from next month.

Home Ministry sources, the ministry is planning similar reviewing of the Y and Z-category list in due course so that more police personnel are available for actual policing in Delhi.

The ministry will soon write to states to discharge central paramilitary force (CPMFs) personnel who were diverted for VIP security, sources added.

The ministry has also raised concern over the state governments lacking to provide security cover to central protectees, according to their categorisation during their tours in the respective states.

As per the VIP security guidelines, no central protectee can retain his/her Delhi-based PSO beyond 72 hours while on an outstation trip. The PSO is thereafter required to report back to Delhi, leaving the onus of protecting the VIP on the state police.

Meanwhile the Home ministry is also planning to reduce the security cover given to former Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, National Commission of Scheduled Castes Chairperson Buta Singh, former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh and Lok Jana Shakti Party Chief Ram Vilas Paswan and others.(ANI)