Patna, Jan. 28: Bihar legislators will be stripped of “automatic gun-toting” security, considered more a symbol of a social status than threat perception.

The automatic weapons, like AK-47, Insas and Self Loading Rifles (SLRs), allotted to the security guards of the legislators will be replaced with small-sized weapons such as revolvers, pistols and carbines.

The state police headquarters issued a directive last week asking all superintendents of police (SPs) to ensure that automatic weapons allotted to the security guards of MLAs and MLCs were deposited with the district armouries. Instead, the security guards should be allotted carbines, revolvers and pistols, which are easy to carry, the directive said.

Though the state police headquarters is maintaining silence over the recent move, sources attributed security reasons to the exercise. “The public representatives (read MLAs and MLCs) are often surrounded by people during their visit. If the automatic weapons wielded by their security guards go off by mistake or they fire in self defence, the fatalities will be more than the small sized firearms,” a police officer under the cover of anonymity said.

He clarified that the order would not affect the security of the politicians who come under special category.

The legislators have already started feeling the heat of the order. Raj Kumar Singh Raju, a Janata Dal (U) MLA from Sahebganj in Muzaffarpur district, was relieved of AK-47 wielded security. The MLA from Kudhani, Manoj Kushwaha, has been served a similar notice by the Muzaffarpur district authorities.

While Singh’s security guard deposited his AK-47 assault rifle with the Muzaffarpur armoury on Saturday, Kushwaha’s guard is set to comply with a joint order issued by the district magistrate and the senior superintendent of police (SSP) asking him to surrender the “automatic weapon”.

“My security guard received the order on January 25, 2012, and the order has been complied with,” said Raju. He expressed surprise over the sudden order to provide small-sized firearms to the security guards at a time when several MLAs and other politicians have received threats to their lives. “The firepower of the small-size firearms is known to all,” he added.

Muzaffarpur SSP Rajesh Kumar said two MLAs of the district were earlier provided security guards carrying automatic weapons. While one of them has deposited the firearms (AK-47), the other is yet to do so. “The order to deposit automatic weapons has been issued to the two legislators in the wake of the directive of the police headquarters,” he added.

Sources in the police headquarters said three MLAs and a former minister hailing from Bhojpur district were relieved of the facility a couple of months ago. Shiv Shanker Dubey and Manindra Kumar Mishra, both security guards of Munni Devi, MLA from Shahpur, deposited their Insas rifles to the district armoury. The security personnel were later provided one pistol and one carbine.

Similarly, Abhay Kumar Singh, security guard of Sanjay Singh Tiger, MLA from Sandesh, surrendered his Insas rifle and was issued a pistol instead. Four constables deputed as security guards of Narendra Pandey, MLA from Piro, also deposited two AK-47 rifles and two Insas rifles. While constables Rajiv Kumar Tiwary and Satish Kumar were allotted Carbines, constables Laxman Singh and Manoj Kumar Thakur were provided pistols.

Former minister Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha’s security guards —Akhilesh Kumar and Yadhuwansh Singh — returned AK-47 and Insas rifles and were issued carbines. Member of Parliament from Ara Meena Singh’s security guard Ranbir Kumar Singh is no exception. Singh has been allotted a pistol instead of an Insas rifle.

Strong resentment prevails among the legislators over the administration’s move to strip their security guards of “automatic weapons”. Jai Kumar Singh, legislator from Dinara in Rohtas district, said: “The administrative officials should first review the threat perception and then take a decision. This cannot be described as a wise decision.” Singh’s security staff has been provided two Insas and one pistol.

There are 243 MLAs and 75 MLCs in the state.

Additional director-general (headquarters) Ravinder Kumar said: “The ministry of home affairs has already issued guidelines with regard to allotment of firearms to the security guards of the legislators, members of Parliament and other people’s representatives. We go by the MHA guidelines.”

Kumar, who is also the official spokesperson for the state police, said each MLA and MLCs has been provided three security guards. In addition, house guards are provided to them. “The security guards are provided to them after review of their threat perception by the district level security committees comprising the magistrate and the superintendent of police,” he clarified.

A source said the recent order has been issued in the wake of intelligence inputs that Maoists may target security guards of the politicians to snatch sophisticated weapons as what happened in Jharkhand.