Over 700 security officials belonging to politicians, VIPs withdrawn in Assam: CM Himanta Biswa

GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said that 762 Personal Security Officers (PSOs) attached to politicians and important personalities in the state have been withdrawn in recent days. Addressing media persons here, Sarma said that on the advice of the Security Advisory Committee constituted to review the threat perception, various political parties and others have left their PSOs without any objection.

He added that around 2,000 PSOs are expected to be withdrawn in the coming days, and this will help us get two new battalions. The chief minister told media persons after a cabinet meeting on January 1 that his government had decided to come out with a new policy for deployment of PSOs in the state, and that their services would no longer be “a symbol of prestige”.

The Security Advisory Committee would review the allocation of PSOs, except those on constitutional posts or those that require cover, he had said. Four battalions of the Assam Police, consisting of 4,240 personnel, were earlier engaged as PSOs, half of which were allotted to politicians.