Woman frisked by PM's male guards

NEW DELHI: A controversy is brewing over male security personnel allegedly frisking a tribal woman who had gone to meet PM Manmohan Singh at his residence, 7 Race Course Road, as part of a delegation.
Though the Special Protection Group (SPG) has denied the incident, the tribal welfare director at the Centre said he has got a complaint and was looking into the matter.
Karikka, 34, a member of the primitive Chola Naikan tribal community which numbers about 280 and lives in caves in Kerala''s rain forests, went to the Prime Minister''s house on January 27, with her husband Mathan, to meet Singh. They were taken by the tribal welfare ministry with other tribals from all over the country to meet the PM on the occasion of the Republic Day celebrations.
Mathan was cleared by the security persons. But when Karikka''s turn came, she was checked by the male security persons, said a tribal welfare officer of the Integrated Tribal Welfare Project who accompanied the tribals.
The securitymen found a piece of arecanut and tobacco, which the tribals chew, on Karikka.
The securitymen then sent messages around and Karikka was not given permission to go with her husband to meet the PM. The tribal welfare official tried to convince the security personnel about the chewing habit of the primitive Chola Naikans, but in vain. The official then asked the security persons to send back Mathan too.
The two tribals, who had been brought to Delhi with much fanfare, thereafter left 7 Race Course Road, without meeting the PM.
When contacted, a Special Protection Group (SPG) offical at the Prime Minister''s Office, however, denied that the incident had taken place. He said: "It was not possible because there were separate counters for frisking male and female visitors."