The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Serious lapse

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Friday, Nov 03, 2006
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Serious lapse

This refers to the report on the security lapse during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Thiruvananthapuram, caused by a wrong turn taken by the vehicle leading his convoy. The incident should be viewed seriously and those responsible punished. It is surprising that the driver of the pilot vehicle was not a policeman but a hired taxi driver.

Though no serious damage has been done, the failure of the State police to provide security to the Prime Minister is glaring. That the incident occurred despite the recent e-mail threat to the Prime Minister and the President from Kochi is a shame on the State Government.

K.A. Solaman,
Alappuzha, Kerala

* * *

The lapse is most condemnable. A thorough inquiry should be conducted into the circumstances leading to the blunder. It is astonishing that the Home Department hired a tourist taxi driver, who was unfamiliar with the route, to lead the convoy. It is also not clear why a police officer of Sub-Inspector rank was made the pilot officer for the VIP convoy.

Given that the country is facing terrorist threat from various quarters, the Kerala Government will have a lot of explaining to do in the next few days.

J. Anantha Padmanabhan,
Srirangam, T.N.

* * *

That the Home Department of a Left-ruled State hired a taxi to pilot the Prime Minister's cavalcade is ironical.

It is shameful that Dr. Singh got stuck because the vehicle leading the convoy took a wrong turn despite three rehearsals.

V. Rajagopalan,
Chennai

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