THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Government is likely to initiate firm action on the breach in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's security that resulted in his motorcade going off the designated route on his arrival here on October 31 night.

The matter has acquired added urgency and seriousness following a missive from the Union Home Ministry to Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan for an explanation for the security breach and the action taken in the matter. The Chief Minister is awaiting Additional Director-General of Police Jacob Punnoose's report on the incident. The report is likely to be submitted late Thursday night and action on the basis of the report is likely on Friday.

The matter was discussed threadbare at a meeting convened by the Chief Minister at his chamber on Thursday morning. Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Chief Secretary Lizzie Jacob, General Administration Secretary E.K. Bharat Bhushan, Home Secretary K.J. Mathew, Director- General of Police Raman Srivastava and ADGP Jacob Punnoose attended the meeting. Emerging from the meeting, Mr. Srivastava told journalists: "We are taking the whole thing very seriously," but refused to elaborate further.

The Government has already initiated action against a reserve inspector in the pilot car, but the Chief Minister is reportedly of the view that responsibility for the incident cannot be confined to just one low-rung official. This, it is felt, is likely to result in action being taken against higher officials.

The Chief Minister also convened another meeting of top police and civil officials on Thursday evening to discuss the security brief for the State Secretariat. Although the Government has been receiving repeated communications from the Union Home Ministry on the subject, it had not acted on these.

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