With Assembly elections round the corner, the police have reduced or withdrawn the security of some ministers and public figures with a threat perception, apparently because they were not entitled to it.

Newsline has learnt that Director-General of Police (Elections) AN Roy had recently issued an order that no minister should be given police protection in excess of what they are entitled to. Further, it said, those who are not entitled to any police protection should be stripped of their cover instantly. A special committee of senior police officers had also prepared a report on the security provided to many high-profile individuals in the state, and recommended withdrawing security or a reduction in several cases.

Sources confirmed that the security cover for Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal and Rural Development Minister Vijaysingh Mohite Patil has been reduced apart from that of several other ministers. The security of other persons, such as members of special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam’s family, too has been withdrawn. Nikam himself, however, continues to enjoy police protection.

The cover for Minister of State for Home (Urban) Naseem Khan and Minister of State for Home (Rural) Nitin Raut has also been downgraded. Earlier this year, both these ministers are known to have asked Home Minister Jayant Patil, citing a terror threat to their lives and seeking a security upgrade from Y category to Z category.

Raut had said he needed additional protection as he was taking on Naxal forces in the state. Now, he said, the entire police protection assigned to him had been withdrawn at one go. “Six or seven days ago, my police security was taken away completely. At present, I have no security at all. If something happens to me now, it will be the Police Commissioner’s responsibility,” he told Newsline.

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