Security Downgrade For Former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik

Bhubaneswar: The security of former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who resides at Naveen Niwas in Odisha capital, has been downgraded.

Official sources said a high-level committee dealing with security issues concerning to important persons recommended the downgrade after recently reviewing the deployment for Naveen. The security level has been reduced from Z to Y category.

The police force and the piloting team deployed during his 24-year rule in the state have been withdrawn. There will be a team of one havildar and four constables, which includes deployment at the barracks at the Naveen Nivas, in each of three shifts during the day. He will also be assigned two personal security officers (PSOs) in each shift for his security since he is the Leader of Opposition. Besides, he will have escort patrol and necessary deployment of senior officers during important public outings, sources said.

Post the elections, Naveen’s security personnel was downsized to 23, including his residence. He earlier received security from 268 personnel deployed in three shifts around his residence.

In September 2023, the previous BJD government formed an exclusive anti-sabotage squad for Naveen and increased his security with the creation of 91 new posts.

The Mohan Majhi government has also removed the security of Naveen’s close aide V K Pandian, senior IPS officer D S Kutey, former WODC chairman Asit Tripathy.