122 Punjab politicians lose security cover after Bhagwant Mann meets DGP

A day after Punjab Chief Minister-designate Bhagwant Mann met Punjab Police DGP V K Bhawra, the Additional Director General of Police (security) in a letter to the SSPs and CPs across the state ordered the withdrawal of security from 122 politicians, including former Congress ministers and MLAs.

Personnel deployed on specific orders of the courts will, however, not be withdrawn, the letter by the additional director general of police (security), dated March 11, to police commissioners, senior superintendents of police and other senior police officers mentioned.

Prominent among those who stand to lose their security cover are former ministers Manpreet Singh Badal, Raj Kumar Verka, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Brahm Mohindra, Sangat Singh Gilzian and former speaker K P Singh.

Badal, who lost from Bathinda Urban seat, is being protected by 19 security personnel while Ashu is guarded by 16 of them, according to the Punjab Police.

The names of Congress leaders who have won the recent assembly elections — Pargat Singh, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Rana Gurjeet Singh, Tript Rajender Singh Bajwa, Sukhbinder Sarkaria and Barindermeet Singh Pahra – also figure in the list.

The security cover of Warring, who was the former transport minister, comprised 21 personnel, the highest among the leaders that figure in the list.

Navjot Kaur Sidhu, wife of Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, will also lose her security cover. She is being protected by seven personnel.

Lok Insaaf Party’s Bains brothers — Simarjeet Bains and Balwinder Bains — will also lose their security cover, as per the order