Letter from Delhi: VIPs should limit their non-essential movements

The ghastly attack on Chandrababu Naidu by the People's War Group has been an eye-opener. What compounded the complete failure of intelligence was the fact that even routine security procedures – like installing jammers that block remote control devices – were not followed which made Naidu's cavalcade a soft target. But security lapses apart, we need to seriously reconsider the mobility allowed to our VIPs.

In the 21st century, when we have crossed so many technological barriers, it makes sense that VIPs also make adequate use of the electronic and the non-electronic media to reach out to people and limit their non-essential movements. At a time when terrorism is redefining itself with every passing day, it is foolish to offer them easy targets. Only a minimum mobility regime for VIPs can minimise the threat perception and help ensuring a foolproof security net.

In India, security agencies get so paranoid under pressure that they virtually shut down towns and parts of big cities whenever a VIP passes by.

Consider our daily grind in the capital. Earlier, traffic was stopped only for the Prime Minister and the President. Now the same elaborate security drill is followed for a host of VIPs including the vice president, the deputy prime minister and every chief minister.

The way threat perceptions are stretching their limits, even police officials, bureaucrats and other celebrities are not safe anymore. Bollywood superstars or top cricketers are also under threat. The situation must be tackled effectively before it gets out of hand.

While security agencies will have to be more alert and learn to depend on effective intelligence rather than crude physical means of check and prevention to safeguard our VIPs, it makes no sense for leaders to travel miles on road to attend small public or political rallies.

In no developed country do VIPs travel as much on the road as in this country. While restricting VIP movements, we must also maximise benefit from facilities like teleconferencing or at least depend on helicopters whenever possible for hassle-free movement.

While on the issue of security, let's examine how can we utilise some of our most experienced hands. The Union Home Ministry has a Special Secretary post responsible for internal security and it is always filled by either retired or about to be retired IPS officers. Interestingly, the candidates preferred are invariably either Commissioners of Delhi Police or DGPs of one of the neighbouring states like Uttar Pradesh or Haryana.

Now Mumbai has always been the city most affected by ISI-sponsored terrorism and underworld activities. Its status of being the business capital of India, its complex cosmopolitan matrix, the cinema industry – everything makes it a prime terrorist target. No wonder the men in charge of safeguarding the city are arguably the most informed and experienced pros when to comes to combating a combination of subversive elements, underworld movers and economic offenders.

The time has come when the Home Ministry must experiment by appointing a Commissioner of Police from Mumbai in charge of internal security.