Ahmedabad, May 04: The Gujarat Police on Tuesday finally increased the security for IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, after a review of the threat he faced following his affidavit in the Supreme Court in which he alleged that Chief Minister Narendra Modi had on February 27, 2002, instructed top state officials to let “Hindus vent their anger” in the aftermath of the Godhra carnage.
The decision follows Bhatt’s repeated requests for security for himself and his family to the state government and SC-appointed SIT. In fact, a few days ago, the DGP had ordered the removal of six armed orderlies Bhatt had picked from the police training college in Junagadh that he heads as principal and posted at his home in Ahmedabad. Bhatt was also asked to return his official vehicle.
Now, three constables have been deployed outside Bhatt’s residence in Ahmedabad as static guards while an armed head constable has been posted as his personal security officer (PSO).
“We had asked Ahmedabad police to look into his security issue and suggested a review. The city police chief looked into the matter and proposed one more personal security officer for Bhatt,” DGP Chitranjan Singh said.
Bhatt confirmed he has now got additional three armed guards.
Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Amitabh Pathak confirmed the development. “We have deployed one more PSO at Bhatt’s residence, in addition to the one appointed earlier. There was a view that his family needed more security,” he said.
“One PSO would remain with Bhatt wherever he moves and one would be stationed at his residence round-the-clock. The new PSO was posted with effect from May 2,” he added. Police said the PSOs would work in eight-hour shifts.
On the question of Y-category security, police said the issue is pending with the state Home Department.
–Agencies–