The security cover for suspended Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) P P Pandey,a key accused in 2004 Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case,has been scaled up from X to Y category by the state government. According to highly placed sources,the state government,after consulting intelligence agencies last week increased the security cover for Pandey,who is currently lodged at Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad. The move comes following a letter written by Pandeys wife who expressed fear that her husbands life was under threat. Sources said that Pandey wife stated in the letter that Ishrat Jahan encounter is a highly publicized case because of which she fears for her husbands life. Pandeys wife had also demanded security for herself and her family which was denied by the state. According to jail sources,Pandey had also written a letter stating that since he dealt with many criminals during his service,there was a threat to his life in the jail. Pandey had been declared an absconder by a CBI court during the progress of the investigation. His absconding status compelled the government to strip Pandeys Z category security. Pandey remained underground as a proclaimed absconder for nearly three months. He surfaced only after CBI filed the chargesheet on July 4. After his surrender,the state government put him under X category security which was upgraded last week. Following instruction,a guard has been deployed at Sardar Yard barrack at Sabarmati jail where he is lodged. Besides,there is another personal security officer who will accompany Pandey whereever he goes, sources said. Pandey is among the seven accused policemen who have been chargesheeted by the CBI for alleged conspiracy,abduction and killing of Ishrat Jahan,Javed Sheikh,Amjad Ali Rana and Zeeshan Johar on June 15,2004 on the outskirts of Ahmedabad.
