Odisha govt downgrades Naveen Patnaik’s security to Y category: Official

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha authorities has downgraded the safety of the state’s five-time former chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who can be the chief of opposition, from Z to Y class, an official mentioned on Thursday. A lot of the safety personnel assigned to Patnaik have been withdrawn after a high-level committee coping with safety problems with necessary individuals advisable the downgrade of the BJD chief’s safety, he mentioned.

Patnaik would now be assigned solely two constables in Havildar rank, the official mentioned.

“Former chief ministers are supplied with two PSOs. Further safety is supplied as and when required,” he mentioned.

Because the chief of opposition, Patnaik can be supplied with required safety by the native police when he undertakes a tour exterior Bhubaneswar, he mentioned.

Nonetheless, Patnaik has additionally personally appointed two senior PSOs who’ve lately retired from authorities service.

After this 12 months’s normal elections, when Patnaik misplaced energy after 24 years, the variety of safety personnel assigned to him was diminished to 23, together with these at his residence. Earlier, 268 personnel have been deployed in three shifts at his residence Naveen Niwas. In September final 12 months, the earlier BJD authorities had shaped an unique anti-sabotage squad for Patnaik’s safety.

The opposition BJD most popular to not react to the downgrade of safety of Patnaik.

“Let individuals kind an opinion whether or not Patnaik must be given sufficient safety,” a BJD chief and former minister mentioned.