Anna Hazare's security strengthened

Activist Anna Hazare's security was strengthened Thursday following attacks on his close aides Prashant Bhushan and Arvind Kejriwal, sources said. The Maharashtra government was in the process of increasing Hazare's security since the last two months, but the latter had been refusing it.

Hazare will now have 11 security personnel, as against the earlier four. Three metal detectors, at the entrances of his home, the Padmavati temple and his office, have also been installed.

All visitors will now have to pass through these detectors and will be frisked with hand-held scanners, before being allowed to meet Hazare. The equipment was installed by late Wednesday.

Hazare is currently on an indefinite maun vrat (vow of silence) at this native village in Ahmednagar district, around 280 kms from Mumbai. Hazare had Wednesday again refused to accept the Z-category security cover for him offered by the state government during a meeting with Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Satyapal Singh.

Two prominent Team Anna members were attacked recently. While Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan was roughed up in his chamber by members of a right-wing group, a slipper was thrown at Arvind Kejriwal at a public meeting in Lucknow.