Thiruvananthapuram: Chief minister V D Satheesan pulled up the police for deploying additional escort and pilot vehicles during his movement in the city and directed that the number of pilot vehicles should not be increased.Satheesan conveyed his displeasure to the Thiruvananthapuram DCP after noticing that more police vehicles had been deployed as part of his convoy. The additional vehicles were subsequently withdrawn. This happened when he came to attend a function at Kawdiar on Wednesday.One of Satheesan’s first decisions after taking office was to reduce the number of escort and pilot vehicles accompanying him, against the practice followed by previous chief ministers. The police had increased the security arrangements amid protests by the BJP’s youth wing, Yuva Morcha, against the chief minister and ministers. Yuva Morcha had announced plans to stage black-flag protests when the chief minister enters the city. Intelligence inputs had also indicated the possibility of protests on Wednesday morning.Late Tuesday night, Yuva Morcha workers staged a black-flag protest against Satheesan at Chackai while he was travelling from Thiruvananthapuram airport to Cliff House after returning from New Delhi.Despite the security concerns, Satheesan made it clear that additional pilot vehicles should not be deployed as part of his convoy.
