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VIP Escorts The
suggestion made by the Director General of Police about better ways of utilizing
services of personnel of the State armed forces Manipur Rifles calls for serious
attention. During an informal discussion with some media persons at the office
of the Imphal West SP Police on Sunday, AA Siddique suggested that the number of
personnel engaged in guarding VIPs might be reduced so that they could be
deployed for protection of the National Highways. This well-meaning suggestion
should not find its way to the wastebasket of the Government. The suggestion is
all the more relevant in the context of the chronic problem we are facing in the
National and State Highways. Right
now, a crisis of sorts is gripping Manipur after strangulation of supply of
essential commodities, thanks to the blockade called by the Naga Youth Front at
Senapati on the Imphal-Dimapur Road. It is needless to repeat what we all in the
Valley and in the Hills have been experiencing since the imposition of the
economic blockade. Fear expressed by the truckers now stranded in Assam is
understandable after the attack on trucks passing Senapati with security escorts
by blockade supporters. Of
course, the report of suspension of the economic blockade is sweet music to the
ears of the whole people in the State. But it is felt by many that the State
Government should chalk out a comprehensive plan to patrol the National as well
as the State Highways for ensuring undisturbed flow of traffic in the future as
well. The response of the Center to this chronic problem could at best be
described as indifferent. The report that the Center has been keeping mum on the
proposal sent months back by the State for protection of Highways affectively
demonstrates Center’s apathy to the issue. On
the other hand, most of the Manipur Rifles personnel are engaged in VIP
protection. It may not be wrong to say that moving around with security escorts
has become more of a status symbol than a necessity. It may not also be wrong to
say that the personnel engaged in VIP security are being “spoiled” by the
VIPs themselves by sending them to do the errands. This will no doubt
drastically reduce efficiency of the security escorts and their morale is bound
to get a beating. We should not forget that the security guards, personnel of the Manipur Rifles or police or whoever they are, are in an active service and they are not raised for engaging in works that should have been done by peons or domestic helps. Of course it is agreed that in view of the prevailing law and order and the abnormal situation in the State, VIPs like Ministers, MLAs or some of the top ranking officers need protection by security guards, but this should not mean that every Tom, Dick and Harry of the so called VIP tribe should be given a large number of security escorts. It is felt that it is time to review the system of providing security escorts provided for VIP protection can be reduced they can be utilized elsewhere as suggested by the DGP. But is anybody listening? (Courtesy: The Sangai Express) Back to Top FrontPage Manipur Profiles Features Potpourri Opinions Editorials Books Photos Links Archives Contact Policy/Disclaimer |
