Threat perception to CM increases

Amitabh Shukla

New Delhi, January 9

The security of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit is likely to be beefed up now. The decision has been taken following a letter of National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan of terrorist threats to key political leaders following the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan.

The letter to all the Chief Ministers of the country was sent to the Delhi Chief Minister on the day following the killing of Bhutto. Narayanan said that the jehadi outfits are a major threat to the key political leaders and their security needs should be beefed up.

“The jehadi outfits are adopting much more sophisticated techniques that previously. They now engage in great deal of planning before an attack. This includes studying the habits, activities and day to day routine of their targets,” the letter of the National Security Advisor said. The vulnerability and weakness of the security system is also studied and then an attack carried out, warns the letter.

The letter, seen by HT, said the personal security of the Chief Ministers (of all states) and other key political leaders need to be instantly reviewed. “Weakness in the security system should be identified and properly plugged wherever necessary,” it said. The letter added that the leaders should be persuaded not to take “unnecessary” risks and adhere to the security drills.

Narayanan’s letter talked about the terrorists using the “new wave” tactics and said that the Prime Minister and the Home Minister have requested that in the light of the latest assessment, security needs to be tightened all round, including that of CMs and key political leaders.

Sources in the Delhi government said that a meeting is likely to be convened by the Chief Secretary early next week to make the security of Delhi CM more foolproof. At present, a pilot and an escort vehicle accompany the official vehicle of the Chief Minister and her residence and office is welll guarded. The Police Commissioner and the CS would also assess the threat assessment of other leaders, who are protected by the Delhi Police. (2008)