Security scare as PM's convoy takes wrong turn

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a major security breach, the convoy of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who arrived here on Tuesday night, came to a screeching halt after the pilot car took a wrong route.

Police officials accompanying the Prime Minister jumped out of their cars when the pilot vehicle took a totally different route while on its way from the airport to the Raj Bhawan.

Police sources said a tourist taxi driver and not a policeman was driving the pilot vehicle.

Following the immediate intervention of the senior police officials, the Prime Minister's journey resumed five minutes later.

Police detained the driver of the car for interrogation as soon as the convoy reached the Raj Bhawan where Manmohan Singh was staying overnight.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan asked Kerala's Director General of Police Raman Srivatsava to inquire into the incident.