The 200-strong list includes senior politicians, advocates and even senior police officers. Then there are some who are being “protected’ by both Haryana and Punjab, courtesy their portfolios and designations.

Besides guard duty at VIP residences, policemen are required for pilot and escort vehicles. While Personal Security Officers and personnel accompanying a VIP in pilot and escort vehicles come from the security wing of the police force, about 600 personnel are sourced from police lines, the reserve force which is supposed to deal with emergencies or law and order problems. These policemen are deployed at the VIPs’ residences as guards.

The VIP Security wing of the UT Police force has around 400 personnel. The wing is headed by an IPS officer, Senior Superintendent of Police (Security), a Deputy Superintendent of Police, three Inspectors and several other junior officers apart from head constables and constables deployed at political rallies and functions.

As far as the threat perception to such VIPs is concerned, the situation hasn’t changed for the last many years.

“The threat perception to VIPs is based on intelligence reports prepared by senior police officers, who either have vested interests to please the VIP who in turn want to ratain securitymen as a status symbol. But, yes, there are a few VIPs, who are under threat. Protocol, too, demands security for a few but many others get benefit from such provisions,” said a retired police officer.

In fact, the number of policemen deployed with a VIP has nothing to do with the threat perception. Security personnel deployed on guard duty are often seen dropping and picking up children from school and college, taking pets for a walk, escorting VIPs’ relatives to markets or friendly visits, dropping and picking up VIPs’ guests from the railway station and airport.