High alert in Pune

PUNE: An alert has been issued in Pune following the grenade attack at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur on Thursday morning. All police stations have been issued directives for enhanced patrolling by city police commissioner D N Jadhav, following instructions from the state Home Department.

Jadhav told DNA that security to the regional RSS headquarters is yet to be beefed up as there was no specific intelligence report on heightened threat to the said office. “Our reaction cannot be based on apprehension. We have to react to specific information. If anyone asks for security, the same will be provided based on merit,” said the police chief.

Meanwhile, the RSS and its affiliates braved the incessant downpour and took to the streets to protest against the attack. Shouting anti-government slogans, they protested against the “excessive minority appeasement” by the Democratic Front government and demanded enhanced security at major RSS offices.

A delegation of senior leaders of the RSS, the BJP, the VHP and the Bajranj Dal also called upon the city police commissioner and demanded round-the-clock security at the RSS regional headquarters – Moti Baug – in Pune.

Expressing concern that the dragnet of terror had spread to Maharashtra, VHP city co-ordinator Rajendra Kulkarni told DNA, “If they want to start a civil war in this state, we are ready. We will not stop till we give them a fitting reply. Bajranj Dal will show them what we can do.”

Meanwhile, security at all RSS centres across the country was tightened following the attempted attack at the Sangh headquarters.  The Centre said it was in constant touch with the Maharashtra government in the wake of the terrorist attempt and measures to beef up security were being taken.