The Hindu : Front Page : No breach in Prime Minister's security: Patil

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 18, 2006

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No breach in Prime Minister's security: Patil

Special Correspondent

`Everyone deployed in his security is vetted'

Shivraj Patil

NEW DELHI: The Government on Thursday said there had been no breach in the Prime Minister's security as was made out by a television channel which had reported that surrendered militants were deployed in his security. Stating that the incident referred to by the channel dated back to 2004, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil wondered why such an old case was raked up on Independence Day when "foolproof security arrangements had been made."

Responding to concerns expressed by members about the Prime Minister's security, Mr. Patil said every individual deployed in his security was "thoroughly security vetted." After providing a brief overview of the multi-layered security arrangement for the Prime Minister, he said one of the three persons named in the report had been recruited in 1988 and another in 1998 as per the policy to recruit surrendered militants in paramilitary forces.

As he stressed the fact that one of the persons was recruited in 1998, the BJP said he should not try to politicise the issue. To this, the Minister said: "We are not finding fault with the `healing touch' policy; we are continuing with it."

Giving details about the case, the Minister said two of the three persons were from Jammu and Kashmir while the third was from Punjab. Without disclosing the names, he said it was later found that the person recruited in 1998 had said he had surrendered only to get a job in the CRPF. Also, he said, none of the three was part of the Prime Minister's security and were posted in pickets of the Delhi police.

This case, Mr. Patil said, came to light because of action taken against one of the constables, Raj Kumar, posted in the picket as he had gone on leave without permission. On returning, he found his gun missing; resulting in an enquiry and his dismissal. Following his dismissal, Raj Kumar has been making allegations. As for the question raised by some members on how people recruited in paramilitary forces were making their way into the civil police, Mr. Patil said the Delhi police took the help of paramilitary forces in the discharge of some of its duties.

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