Agartala, May 23 (Bureau) A day after the warning of Congress to move high court against Tripura government for providing extra ordinary security cover and accorded undue privilege to former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, state police on Monday reduced his security. Police said analyzing threat perceptions and his area of responsibility, they dropped the first pilot car, tail car and a spare car from his long convoy along with half of the security personnel. Even after stepping down from Chief Minister post, Deb was enjoying ‘Z-Plus’ security having at least 11 vehicles. “Since he is no longer Chief Minister automatically three vehicles from his carcade have been removed by protocol and now we have reduced three more vehicles including the flag-pilot car, so Deb will avail maximum five vehicles including three security vans but no pilot car. The number of his security personnel has been reduced to half,” said a senior officer of the home department.
Before being elected as Chief Minister, Deb had been provided Y category security in pursuance to the direction of Union Home Ministry. After became Chief Minister Deb increased his security cover to Z-Plus category not only for his routine movement but also erected complete enclosure into the entire front stretch of his official residence, put big gates in both the side of the roads stopping the civilians movement into the lane of CM’s house that drew flaks among the citizens. The movement of Deb has regularly been disrupting the normal traffic in the city and he was vehemently criticised for his high security entry into the social gathering and crowded roads. The entire police force on his way within and periphery of the city had to wait till night for his unusual movement, which triggered a serious reaction among the lower rank of police, source said.
While addressing a press conference, Congress leader and former cabinet colleague of Biplab Deb Sudip Roy Barman on Sunday sought the attention of Chief Secretary and DGP for alleged misuse of public money by Deb even a week after resigned from CM post and threatened to file PIL in High Court seeking recovery and action of his undue entitlements. Deb has still occupied the CM’s bungalow and done all his political activities. Senior officials, ministers and even the Chief Minister were seen visiting him there, which is a gross violation of the protocol and administrative norms, he alleged. Roy Barman said Supreme Court in a judgement in August 2016 had made it clear that former Chief Ministers are not entitled to get government accommodation, facilities and privileges but Biplab Deb has been enjoying all these parallel to the Chief Minister and showing off his supremacy over the government and administration.
“Biplab Deb is attending the government programme which is planned for the Chief Minister and he was found sitting in the dais as Chief Guest in the government programme where ministers were sitting lower to him. He is summoning District Magistrates and SPs to receive him and officers of various departments are directed to spend government funds for his political programme. He is availing chopper drive with his private party at government cost for seven days but administration is silent,” Roy Barman alleged. Terming the entitlements to Deb as unjustifiable privileges, Roy Barman said, the way CM Dr Manik Saha is maintaining a noticeable silence over the issue, Congress feels he is a puppet into the hands of Deb or Deb is trying to showcase that he is the boss of all. However, DGP and Chief Secretary were not reachable for their reaction on the issue while BJP Spokesperson Subrata Chakraborty said the allegations made by Congress leaders are politically motivated to tarnish the image of Biplab Deb and the party.