CHANDIGARH, July 17: The Punjab Police has launched a concerted drive to rationalise security cover provided to various persons threatened by terrorists in the state by curtailing their security or removing them from the protection list in view of changed circumstances.

The list of those who have been provided state security cover has already been pruned by over 10 per cent during the past four months, according to Inspector General (security) S S Virk, who added that many more persons would be taken off the security list in near future after the on-going review of security was completed.

Most of those whose names have been struck off the security list include small-time leaders in districts who were provided one or two guards many years back and neither they nor their family were made targets by terrorists over the period.

There were more than 2,300 persons who moved about under state protection when the Akali Dal-BJP government was formed in the border state. The number of such persons now has fallen below 2,100, he disclosed today.

``Though some attempts to reduce security cover were made earlier after restoration of peace in Punjab but those were never so effective,'' another official in the security wing claimed.

He said virtually no office-bearer or leader of the ruling Akali Dal had asked for security cover under the new regime.

``Congressmen continue to constitute the biggest chunk with police protection followed by the Akali leaders,'' Virk said.

The only Akalis added to the list include the newly-elected MLAs with the routine security cover.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.