What led to lapse in PM's security in Kerala

A high-level probe by Kerala police into the security lapse during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit has found that the route-deviation of the motorcade was due to a slip-up in communication between the pilot officer and the driver.

The report of Kerala's Additional Deputy General of Police (Intelligence) Jacob Punnoose said it was not for the first time that private vehicles and drivers were engaged during VVIP visits.

The report, submitted by Punnoose to DGP Raman Srivastava late Thursday night, did not recommend any action against top police officials as the purpose of the probe was 'fact-finding, and not fault-finding,' official sources said on Friday.

The probe found that the confusion in communication between the cavalcade's pilot officer and the driver caused deviation of the pilot vehicle in the wrong direction instead of proceeding to the scheduled route to the Raj Bhavan.

On the vital issue of engaging a taxi driver for the pilot car, the report said there were precedents of private hands being engaged

during visits of VVIPs. Hiring private vehicles and engaging experienced drivers during VVIP visits had been a practice followed for long, it said, adding that this could not be seen as a major procedural deviation.

The report said that the probe was an effort to find out what led to security lapse by gathering information from the persons involved in the security arrangement and execution during the Prime Minister's visit.

Srivastava has forwarded the report to the state Home Secretary and it will be discussed by the chief minister and Home minister for taking follow up measures on it, the sources said.

The statements of pilot officer Balachandran, driver Shiju and several police officials were taken during the inquiry.

According to sources, the driver and pilot officer blamed each other for the fault.

While the driver claimed he only followed the directions of the pilot officer, the latter stuck to his position that he had not misguided the driver. The pilot officer was placed under suspension immediately after the incident. The driver was let off after interrogation by police and security agencies.