Can journalists ‘misuse’ the privileges accorded to them by security personnel for exposing the loopholes in security network?

This was the question posed to this reporter by security men at Vidhan Soudha on Wednesday in the wake of an ‘investigative’ story telecast by an English channel on the ‘security lapses’ at Vikas Soudha on Tuesday.

Following the telecast of the story by the news channel, City Commissioner of Police N Achutha Rao is said to have slapped a notice on the Deputy Commissioner of Police concerned. “Certainly some heads will roll in the police department”, well placed sources revealed.

Usually security persons refrain from thoroughly frisking media persons on normal days. The police usually desist from asking media persons to produce identity cards or passes. Only in extraordinary situations such as president or prime minister’s visit, the media persons are asked to produce proof of their identity.

On Tuesday when the reporter of the channel, along with his camera man, sought oral permission for entering the premises of Vikas Soudha, the security persons posted there are said to have granted permission.

Using the camera carrying with them, the reporter is said to have ‘exposed’ the security lapses at Vikas Soudha.
Some constables working at Vidhana Soudha blamed media persons for coming up with such ‘investigative’ stories.