Ranchi, Dec. 7: Terror or no terror, politicians in this state are a privileged lot as far as security is concerned.

The brouhaha over Team India skipper M.S. Dhoni not being given the kind of protection he is entitled to has brought to the fore the “excess” security the chief minister, his cabinet colleagues and other politicians enjoy.

According to Special Branch recommendations, Governor Syed Sibtey Razi and chief minister Shibu Soren are entitled to Z-plus security. This means they can avail the services of a bulletproof car, a pilot vehicle and 25 armed guards, including eight Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP) commandos, house guards and escorts.

However, sources in the police department say that Soren has as many as 220 armed guards at his beck and call, while Razi enjoys the services of 115 security personnel. Former chief minister Babulal Marandi, also entitled to Z-plus security, has at his disposal 52 guards drawn from the JAP and the district armed police.

The special branch puts all ministers in the Soren cabinet under Y-category security, which entitles them to the services of two police officers and a section force — six armed personnel — to guard their residences.

However, transport minister Anosh Ekka has 51 escorts while the number is 56 for water resources minister Kamlesh Singh. Sports minister Bandhu Tirkey and health minister Bhanu Pratap Sahi enjoy the services of 23 armed guards each.

A few other ministers have 30-40 policemen — many of them part of the Special Task Force (STF) of JAP — offering them protection. The STF personnel are trained by the NSG and Greyhounds — anti-Naxalite forces from Andhra Pradesh. They are equipped with Insas rifles. However, those guarding the chief minister carry AK-47s.

A government circular says that an MP or MLA is entitled to two bodyguards from the district constabulary. Only those facing threat from some extremist outfit may get JAP escorts. However, most parliamentarians and legislators have more than two guards at their beck and call.

Talking to The Telegraph, JAP inspector-general (IG) Rezi Dungdung said that three-and-a-half companies of the force are currently deployed for VIP security. They are better known as VIP security commandos. A single company comprises 105 policemen, including 75 constables and 18 havildars.

This means more than 350 JAP personnel cater to the so-called security needs of VIPs. Besides commandos, the ministers and politicians are also successful in drawing escorts from their respective constituencies.

Some senior officers believe security of ministers is important. “If a single leading politician is killed, there will be chaos and anarchy in the state,” a police superintendent said.

A JAP commandant, requesting anonymity, said: “We follow the orders of the director-general of police (DGP) as far as deploying JAP commandos is concerned. We do not know which leader is entitled to what category of security,”

While DGP Vishnu Dayal Ram was not available for his comments, additional director-general of police (Special Branch) Rajeev Kumar made a face-saving attempt and said that there was provision for “adequate security” to ministers and other VIPs. “So, despite the category they are entitled to, they can get more than the required number of personnel.”

State police spokesperson Satya Narayan Pradhan echoed Kumar.

He said the number of personnel was not fixed as far as providing security to ministers was concerned, but admitted that there were cases of violation.

“Security is provided following recommendations of the Special Branch’s state and district committees. However, sometimes there are violations. The number of guards increase without sanction,” he said.