Mumbai, May 25: Shocked by a staggering Rs11 crore bill from the ITBP for guarding Ajmal Kasab, the Maharashtra government has decided to hand over the security of 26/11 terror attack convict to the state police, saying the service provided by the central force was “costly”.
“I have ordered DG police to replace ITBP security with Maharashtra police personnel. ITBP security is costly,” home minister RR Patil said today.
Demanding a concession in the bill, Patil said, “The attack on Mumbai is an attack on the nation. We demand a concession in the bill amount.”
The ITBP had recently slapped a bill of Rs10.87 crore on Maharashtra government for guarding Kasab at the Arthur Road jail and sought reimbursement.
RK Bhatia, director general of ITBP, whose 200 commandos provide 24-hour security to Kasab, had raised the bill for reimbursement of expenses incurred between March 28, 2009 and September 30, 2010.
The ITPB was deployed in the jail where a special court conducted the trial and convicted Kasab, the lone Pakistani gunman of 26/11 Mumbai attacks to be captured alive.
–Agencies