India Removes Special Security Protection for 30 VIPs

by israeli.agent | August 28, 2009 at 02:07 pm

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In a widely welcomed move, Indian home ministry has withdrawn X category security cover for 30 in the latest revision of VIP security plan. In addition to this there is a reduction of existing security officers for the remaining VIPs. The freed up security personnel will be returned to their duty of national security.

As per Indian security act, there are 4 VIP security categories. Z+, Z, Y and X. The highest Z+ category warrants 36 personnel and the lowest X category 2 trained personnel. As per security act, VIPs are those people who are Central ministers, Judges, politicians and bureaucrats.

The security category is, traditionally, considered as a reflection of the status of the VIP rather than a necessity. This practice was widely criticized in India because of the huge financial and administrative overhead involved. It is only now that the government has decided to do something about such misuse of taxpayer’s money.

After wrapping up a comprehensive review of the security cover provided to about 435 VIPs from different areas, the Union Home Ministry has decided to withdraw the X-category security given to 30 persons. With this, the list of the protectees under the category has shrunk to 20, sources in the Ministry said.

A protectee is given one personal security officer for eight hours. This means sparing three policemen for him for round- the-clock security. In another 10 to 15 days, the sources said, the drill would be carried out for those who enjoyed Y, Z and Z-plus category security.

After the security downgrade or withdrawal, the Ministry expects to take about 2,500 police personnel off from VIP security duty and make their services available for maintenance of law and order. Though the sources did not divulge the names of the “X” category protectees, whose security cover was being withdrawn, It is learnt that the list includes names of mostly politicians and some former judges. A detailed review of VIP security was carried out over the past two months.