The number of security guards to the ministers and elected representatives of the state was increased after the killing of the then BJP MLA of Purnea, Raj Kishore Kesri, on January 4 last year. He was killed by lady principal, Rupam Pathak, who charged the MLA and his aide with repeatedly raping her.
Though the number of security guards have not been reduced the state police headquarters issued a directive recently asking all superintendents of police (SPs) to ensure that automatic weapons allotted to the security guards of MLAs and MLCs were deposited with the district armouries. Instead, the security guards should be allotted revolvers, pistols and carbines, which are easy to carry.
Police sources were quoted in the media as saying that the MLAs and MLCs are often surrounded by people during their visit. If the automatic weapons wielded by their security guards go off by mistake or they fire in self-defence, the fatalities would be more than the small-sized firearms.
But the elected representatives argue that the same logic applies in the case of chief minister and ministers as they too are surrounded by much larger number of people.
The police, on the other hand, clarified that the order would not affect the security of the elected representatives who come under special category.
The MLAs and MLCs are upset by the state government move as AK-47-toting security guards have become a status symbol for many of them. May sound strange nevertheless true: even Narendra Pandey alias Sunil Pandey, Janata Dal (United) MLA from Piro and a strongman, had four well-armed constables deputed as security guards. However, after the recent order they deposited two AK-47s and two Insas rifles. Now they have been handed over pistols and carbines.
One of the MLAs Jai Kumar Singh, who represents Dinara Assembly seat in Rohtas district, said that the administrative officials should first review the threat perception and then take a decision.
The additional director-general (headquarters) Ravinder Kumar justified the move by quoting the Union home ministry’s guidelines with regard to allotment of firearms to the security guards of the legislators, members of Parliament and other people’s representatives. He said the police headquarters is going by that guidelines.
He clarified that each MLA and MLC has been provided the security guards after review of their threat perception by the district level security committees comprising the district magistrate and the superintendent of police. Each of them are provided three security guards. In addition, house guards are provided to them.
Media reports quoting official sources said that the recent order has been issued in the wake of intelligence inputs that Maoists may target security guards of the politicians to snatch sophisticated weapons as it happens in Jharkhand and other states.

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