But as militancy waned, their level of preparedness came down, and their AKs gave way to briefcases, bouquets, bags, bottles of liquor and even babies they were told to sit or put sleep.

In addition, they slaved through their official duties with their PPs (Protected Persons) without so much as a murmur.

They dropped their master's children at the school and picked them up every afternoon, carrying the satchels on their shoulders. They opened the door when the bell rang. They ushered their PPs into auditoriums, held the bouquets at functions, fetched food and carried luggage to the station.

Till the new UT IGP, Kiran Bedi, waded through their files soon after taking charge, in orderto ``rationalise'' personal security duties and improve police efficacy in the city.

Says one of the relieved PSOs who was attached to a local politician: ``It was a slave's life. I had forgotten I was a policeman. Its a great feeling to return to normal policing duties. I was fed up of doing petty things like carrying his briefcase. He would send me with gifts to his friends and relatives.''

Another PSO who was attached with an industrialist, says that despite his presence, his subject of security felt vulnerable. ``He used to take me along to make a power statement. He would keep me around if the purpose was being served, or he would tell me that he was safe and didn't need any security. Also, he used to go to a female friend in the evenings and obviously didn't take me along.''

Some of the PPs, however, did not mind taking their PSOs along. ``I was with a businessman-politician of the city. But my PP was very generous. He was very fond of his drink and always offered it to me,'' he says. ``Butsometimes he would go overboard and then I had to help him to his car. It used to get very embarrassing,'' he adds in an undertone.

One PSO learnt about handicaps on the city's lush green golf course, not as a golfer but as a caddy to his bureaucrat PP. Yet another, who was attached with a politician, says his job was to entertain his VIP's kids.

IGP Kiran Bedi has taken strong exception to the kind of jobs the PSOs had been made to perform by the PPs, and she is going to ensure that they act as professionally trained policemen and do not deviate from their duties.

``A list will be prepared in which it will be stated what are the jobs they will do and what they will not do,'' she says.

Misuse apart, assigning sundry jobs to the PSOs could actually prove costly if a marked man is left alone. An official points out that a VIP was killed when he had sent his PSO to run an errand.