Patna,(BiharTimes): One of the important steps the then Janata Dal (United)-BJP government took a couple of years after coming to power in November 2005 was to increase the number of police bodyguards to the ministers and elected representatives––MLAs and MLCs.

As there was no scope for questioning the government in those heydays of ‘Susashan’ the media chose to ignore the issue even though the state has always faced shortage of police personnel.

However, BiharTimes did carry a story on it.

Years later Rakesh ‘Rocky’ Ranjan, the son of JD(U) MLC, Manorama Devi proved how wrong Nitish Kumar then was. He exhibited to the world his better shooting skill by killing an innocent boy; thus rendering useless the service of his mother’s bodyguard, Rajesh Kumar, who was incidentally travelling in the same Range Rover.

It is another question why was he ‘protecting’ the MLC’s son, when he was supposed to guard her. Besides, if Rocky was armed with such a sophisticated and expensive pistol and is a member of Rifle Club in Delhi––where he studied––why was he carrying the guard? Was he facing any threat from Maoists, or terrorists? If so he should have approached the government for protection, rather than carry pistol, even if licensed.

The truth is that most of the legislators do not need so much armed guards. As they are law unto themselves nobody would dare to touch them. Therefore, nowadays they ‘outsource’ the bodyguards to their sons or may be even daughters.

But Rocky did not even need the service of a bodyguard as he was strong enough to protect himself. He was carrying Rajesh just to exhibit his status.

After his arrest––he has also been suspended––Rajesh, while talking to the mediapersons, confirmed that Rocky fired on Aditya. He said he did not see but heard the sound.

Rocky’s father Bindi told the media after the incident that his son fired in self-defence. Though nobody is going to believe Bindi his argument raises another question: If Rocky was so agile and equipped enough to fire in self-defence why was he carrying Manorama Devi’s official bodyguard. And why Rajesh agreed to accompany him.

No doubt official bodyguards have become a status symbol in our society. Most of these strong-men and even –women are so powerful that they have their own prirvate guards.

For example, Bindi continued to flourish even during the high time of ‘Susashan’ when he was not carrying any official bodyguard.

There are many such Bindis in all the parties of the state.