Kerala CM V D Satheesan’s Security Upgraded
Instances of growing uncontrolled crowds, individuals near CM
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala police have decided to step up security around Chief Minister V D Satheesan due to the growing incidents of uncontrolled crowds and individuals trying to approach and make physical contact with him.
The Intelligence Wing has instructed District Police Chiefs to enhance security arrangements for the Chief Minister during public events and travel.
The Additional DGP (Intelligence) issued an alert warning that overcrowding and similar situations could result in serious security lapses. The Chief Minister is in the highest security category in the state and is its most protected individual.
The district SPs have been instructed to put in place high security and adequate police deployment at venues where the Chief Minister is scheduled to attend programmes.
Additionally, security will be beefed up along the routes he takes while visiting various parts of the state. The security deployment will include both plainclothes officers and uniformed personnel. The directive issued by intelligence has asked the district police to implement the necessary security measures on the ground to prevent any untoward incidents.
After taking over as Chief Minister, Satheesan had stated that he would travel with minimal security paraphernalia. As a result, only a pilot and escort vehicle accompany the Chief Minister during travel.
The Chief Minister had reduced his security paraphernalia in view of the severe criticism faced by his predecessor, Pinarayi Vijayan, who used to have a convoy of nearly 10 vehicles. There were also allegations that the CM was inaccessible during the previous LDF regime.
Satheesan had instructed the police personnel not to divert or block traffic for long periods when his convoy was on the road. However, a review of his security suggests that many people, including media personnel, were getting too close to him during his public programmes. Such instances could compromise his security, and that is what the police personnel want to prevent.