Dress code for VIP gunmen

CHANDIGARH, July 24: No gunman carrying arms will be allowed in public places in civil clothes.A decision to this effect was taken at a m...

CHANDIGARH, July 24: No gunman carrying arms will be allowed in public places in civil clothes.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting chaired by UT Administrator Lt Gen B.K.N. Chhibber retd yesterday. Alarmed by the recent incidents of shootouts in public places in the City, especially by the gunmen of VIPs, the Administrator had called a meeting of senior officials of Punjab, Haryana and UT.

Expressing concern over the misuse of security guards by the relatives and wards of quot;protectedquot; persons, the Administrator said that in such cases, the security should be withdrawn immediately.

Chhibber also asked the UT Inspector General of Police to take strict action against any security or escort vehicle committing a traffic offence.

Emphasising the need for enforcing the code of conduct for security personnel, Chhibber asked the IGP to advertise and give an opportunity to the public to send their complaints against erring gunmen.

The IGP informed that since 1995, there have been 93 criminal cases involving security personnel and kin of quot;protectedquot; persons in the City, of which 23 related to accidents caused by negligent driving by escort vehicles.

The Administrator sought the co-operation of Punjab and Haryana governments in expediting the prosecution of erring police personnel. It was agreed that both states would supply lists of quot;protectedquot; persons with the names of armed guards attached to the IGP.

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Chhibber also expressed concern over increasing resentment among Chandigarh residents because of pitching of tents on public land by police personnel, as it amounted to encroachment on the residents8217; privacy. He asked the Administration to issue immediate instructions to all quot;protectedquot; persons, especially those living in government accommodation, to shift tents of security personnel inside the compound of their house immediately.

In case there was no space for tents inside the compound of quot;protectedquot; persons, arrangements should be made for shift-wise details of security from the nearest reserve location or unit headquarters.

Earlier, the meeting reviewed the overall law and order scenario in the region and decided to adopt a coordinated approach, including the sharing of intelligence, to meet any challenge from terrorist outfits.