The government has sanctioned an armed paramilitary squad to guard the bungalow of former President Pratibha Patil in Pune in Maharashtra.
The Union Home Ministry has tasked the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to deploy a contingent of about 25-30 personnel to render “static guard” and sentry duties at the post-retirement abode of Patil in the Pashan Road area of the city.
CRPF, the mainstay for anti-Naxal operations in the country, has been drawn into static guard or installations security duty after a long time, sources said, adding that the troops for this task will be drawn from a battalion based in north India.
CRPF has recently been tasked to provide VIP security cover to RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani and former MoS Matang Singh.