Speaker orders full police verification of toll staffers

As a member of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) narrated his ordeal of sitting in a police station for five hours after his security guard was thrashed by a toll barrier employee, Speaker Sitasaran Sharma on Wednesday directed the Government to ensure police verification for toll barrier employees.

Raising the issue during the Question Hour, Kalu Singh said that he had gone to lodge a complaint in the police station on the assault on his security guard but was made to sit for five hours.

“I was greatly distressed with the incident. Since then, I have stopped coming to Bhopal from Dhar in my car. I am commuting in bus instead,” said an anguished Singh. Home Minister Bhupendra Singh said that such incidents usually occur when a security guard assigned to the security of a legislator is not carrying his identity card and is not in specified uniform.

However, the member claimed that his security guard was carrying his identity card and alleged that untrue information was being provided in the House. Principal-opposition Congress members supported the BJP member and created ruckus over inadequate security for lawmakers. While the Home Minister assured the regime's commitment for providing security to legislators, the Speaker said that the dispensation should ensure police verification of toll barrier employees because sometimes they are of criminal disposition.