Patna, Feb. 6: Gun-toting security officers serving VIPs as bodyguards, more of a status symbol than anything else in the state, will soon be a thing of the past.

Senior officers in the state have undertaken an exercise to review the deployment of personnel as bodyguards of VIPs.

One of them is Gaya senior superintendent of police (SSP) P. Kannan.

Kannan has asked his subordinates to prepare a list of VIPs who have been provided security guards across the district. He initiated the step after receiving complaints of some VIPs misusing security personnel assigned to them. The SSP was also apprised of people facing criminal charges being assigned bodyguards from the police force. 'Around 10 per cent of the district police force is engaged in providing security cover to the VIPs,' he said.

So, Kannan has decided to discuss the issue with the district magistrate soon.

According to rules, security guards are provided to people on the recommendation of the district security-level committee, comprising the district magistrate, superintendent of police (SP) and members of the special branch. A source in Gaya police said several people have been provided security cover in spite of them not meeting the prerequisites.

'It appears that the officers were assigned the job, throwing rules to the wind. Even history-sheeters have been given security cover,' a police officer said.

Sources in the home department said over 5,000 of the 60,000-strong police force have been assigned bodyguard duty for politicians, judges, bureaucrats and other VIPs at an annual expenditure of Rs 170 crore.

Ever since the 2011 murder of BJP MLA Raj Kishore Keshari in Purnea, the number of bodyguards assigned to VIPs has been increased from two to three. In addition, contractors and builders have also been provided security guards by the government on payment of salary of the cops assigned to the people.

Darbhanga SSP Manu Maharaaj has already undertaken a similar exercise to review the deployment of policemen as VIPs' bodyguards since last month. Sources said on one instance, he found a contractor, whose firm was blacklisted by the government for its failure to complete a road construction project work in stipulated time, was assigned bodyguards from the police force.

He immediately instructed the sergeant-major to furnish a list of people enjoying the facility in the district. 'The bodyguards will be withdrawn after a fresh review of their threat perception,' Maharaaj told The Telegraph over phone.

He said according to the rules, a review of bodyguards assigned to VIPsneeds to be done every six months. 'But it is seldom done,' he said.

Following the footsteps of Maharaaj and Kannan are other SPs in the state.

Fresh instructions from the police headquarters to review the deployment of bodyguards assumes significance in the wake of a brawl between the security guards of an RJD MLA Surendra Yadav and a shopkeeper in Gaya in December last year over a trivial issue.

Yadav, who is facing charges of kidnapping, murder and extortion, haddefended his guards saying they were on official duty.