Conducting another review of security personnel, Punjab Government has decided to cut down the security of as many 135 VIPs including IAS or PCS officers, politicians, former MLAs, former judges, among others. In all 174 Punjab police cops, posted to protect the “VIPs”, would be called back.

Aimed at maximum mobilization of police force, the withdrawals were done to “enforce and support the preventive measures taken by the state government against the spread of corona virus”.

The state Police Department has decided to “partially withdraw” the security cover of 135 VIPs or protectees on “purely temporary basis”, which would be restored after “the expiry of period of curfew in Punjab”.

A meeting of Sub-Committee on Finance on Tuesday decided that norms and expenditure on security of people, not holding public office any longer or have never held public office, would be reviewed by May 15 to decide on possible cuts on this count.

Punjab Government had already withdrew 1,300 police officers — including a significant number from the Chief Minister’s security — from the VVIP duty to strengthen the police force enforcing curfew amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

Already, the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had directed mobilization of maximum police force through withdrawal from security duties.

The withdrawals from the security duties were being carried out on the basis of evaluation of threat scenario, which is an ongoing process.

Most of the security persons withdrawn are either from district force or armed battalions.

Among those, whose security has been curtailed include former Union Minister Ambika Soni, SAD Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Kumar Gujral, Akali stalwart and Rajya Sabha MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, former Governor Buta Singh, SAD leader Baldev Singh Mann, former MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, former MLA Amarpal Singh Bony Ajnala, former MLA VIrsa Singh Valtoha, former MLA Avinash Chander, among others.

Besides, the security of former Ministers Gulzar Singh Ranike, Opinderjit Kaur, Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Sohan Singh Thandal, Tota Singh, have also been pruned. Among the IAS officers are KJS Cheema, Rajat Aggarwal, Sanjay Popli, S Karuna Raju, other than retired IAS officers — DS Bains, DP Reddy, DS Guru, PS Aujla, among others.

A senior official said that it has been recommended that these cops should be deployed in their home districts “as far as practicable”.

It has also been clarified that security personnel, who are deployed on court orders, should not be withdrawn.

Notably, the security of several protected persons in the State, including the Chief Minister, has already been cut down to divert police personnel to the much-needed curfew enforcement and Covid relief duties.