Kerala Police directed to tighten CM’s security at public events, deploy plainclothes personnel
The Kerala Police have ordered tighter security for Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, including the use of plainclothes officers at public events. This follows concerns over physical contact from uncontrolled crowds and recent friction between the CM's security detail and the media.
Why it matters
The directive highlights the tension between maintaining high-level political security and ensuring media access to public officials.
The Intelligence wing of Kerala Police has directed District Police Chiefs in Keralam to strengthen security arrangements for Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan at public functions and during his travels, citing concerns over uncontrolled crowds, including mediapersons, who approach him and come into physical contact with him.
In a confidential alert issued on September 26, the Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) cautioned that such situations could result in serious security lapses, considering that the Chief Minister belongs to the highest security category in the State.
The communication, issued from the State Special Branch headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, instructed District Police Chiefs to ensure adequate deployment of police personnel at venues attended by the Chief Minister and along his travel routes. Besides uniformed personnel, police officers in plainclothes must be deployed to prevent untoward incidents and ensure his complete security, the order stated.
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