Date:03/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120353660400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Only Cabinet-rank politicians should get police security: FINS

Special Correspondent

Other politicians, legislators should go in for private secuirity, says forum

FINS suggests immediate setting up of facilities for NSG base
It proposes 700 acres of land at Chickmagalur for the purpose

BANGALORE: The Forum for Integrated National Security (FINS) has appealed to Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa to ensure that the State does not lose out on the proposal of the Union Government for the deployment of National Security Guards (NSG) operations and training centres in select cities for a quick response to terrorist attack.

In a letter to the Chief Minister, copies of which were released to the media on Tuesday, FINS office-bearers suggested that Karnataka should immediately offer to provide all the required facilities for locating the NSG operations training centre and base. They said the Government should offer about 700 acres of land, preferably the Kudremukh project site in Chickmagalur district, for locating the proposed NSG unit.

The FINS office-bearers, including president and former bureaucrat Vijay Gore, suggested various measures to strengthen the security in Karnataka, in a bid to avert terror attacks. These suggestions included relieving a large number of policemen, who have been deployed to provide security to legislators and politicians who are not holding Cabinet-rank portfolios. These police can instead be used in combating anti-national activities, the office-bearers said. The above politicians should be asked to hire private security personnel for their security.

‘Reduce manpower’

They also suggested reducing the manpower strength of “escort and protection” duties extended to judges of the Karnataka High Court so that more police could be deployed for protecting vital installations.

Other suggestions included encouraging “neighbourhood watch system” among citizens and using the services of retired police personnel and ex-servicemen for monitoring security-related issues in Government agencies, industries, banks and other sectors.

They also appealed to the general public to cooperate with security personnel in security check-ups. They suggested that the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues could set an example by voluntarily going through security checks whenever they visit prominent places.

Major-General (Retd) M.C. Nanjappa, retired Army officer V.M. Patil and historian N.S. Rajaram were present at the press conference.