Ahmednagar SP said the Gandhian accepted police protection in a half-hearted manner.
The Ahmednagar police will be providing noted anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare with Z category security (high security cover of 22 personnel) with immediate effect. This was stated by Ahmednagar’s superintendent of police Krishna Prakash while speaking to DNA on Friday at Ralegan Siddhi.
According to Prakash, Hazare was not keen to accept this security cover, saying that he works for the welfare of the people and does not require any protection. “However, I told him that the police had a duty to ensure his safety and so he accepted the proposal in a half-hearted manner,” said Prakash.
On Friday, Hazare had two policemen in plainclothes guarding him around the clock.
“Ever since his success with the Jan Lokpal movement, Anna has become an iconic figure for the nation. Keeping this in mind, we have decided to provide him with Z category security,” said Prakash.
Prakash had come to the guesthouse of the Padmavati temple located in the northern corner of Hazare’s village of Ralegan Siddhi on Friday to discuss the question of security. He denied receiving any intelligence inputs regarding threats to Hazare. “However, we do have to take precautions against any attacks by insane people,” he claimed.
At Hazare’s insistence, the policemen guarding him are dressed in plainclothes and not in uniform.
The Gandhian leader was earlier provided police protection in 2007, which was withdrawn at the behest of Hazare himself.
Meanwhile, in view of the gram sabha on Friday, there was heavy police bandobast in the Ralegan Siddhi village in Ahmednagar district, 75km north of Pune.
Around 50 policemen, including a police inspector and eight armed commandos, were seen guarding the Padmavati temple’s guesthouse where Hazare has been staying since his return to his village on Thursday.
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