Listening Posts add to BJP worries

AHMEDABAD: Over a month back when the Supreme Court directed the Centre to provide security to riot case witnesses in Gujarat on the ground that they had lost faith in the local police, it had not seemed such a serious issue as it does now.
The riot witnesses are suddenly feeling more reassured, not because the Listening Posts (LPs) of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) have been set up to protect them, but because the power had changed hands in Delhi.As per the SC''s directives, these LPs —mobile security units of the CISF — would patrol the areas where witnesses resided. And it could give nightmares to the Modi government now.
The concept of LPs was derived after consultations with inspector general of police, Intelligence Bureau (IB), Yashowardhan Azad, the CISF and the state police officers. The LPs started functioning a week ago, when the government at the Centre was already in transition and now it could have completely different implications.
"These LPs, stationed in 11 riot-hit areas, will be regularly sending reports to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) about any violation of the SC directive by either the accused or the local police," CISF sources told the TNN.What the state government fears is that with such watchdogs patrolling the riot-hit areas, the Congress-led Centre could get enough ammunition against the Modi government.
The LPs were designed after observations that many of the riot witnesses were not living in the same place anymore and were scattered, sources said. A senior CISF officer told the TNN that a company force (roughly 85 personnel) had been deployed in Gujarat for securing four areas segregated as "riot zones", spread over Ahmedabad, Himmatnagar, Godhra and Baria.
Each LP is headed by a sub-inspector, except in Godhra and Baria, which are under the charge of an inspector considering its sensitivity.
All the 21 witnesses of the Bilkis Bano gangrape case are covered by one LP. "They have been armed with VHF wireless sets, firepower and lists of all the witnesses who come under their cover," said a senior police officer from Gujarat. Earlier, following allegations of similar threats, the Gujarat police had deployed some 500 SRP and Border Wing (Homeguards) jawans, to protect witnesses till the SC directive came in.
"Basically the witnesses had lost faith in the Gujarat police and the CISF''s presence will create some confidence among them," said a senior officer.
A total of around 300 witnesses have been covered under this system, said in-charge director general of police AK Bhargav.