Security ‘upgraded’ at Sanjiv Bhatt’s house

Police Commissioner Sudhir Sinha said,“The previously deployed policemen were from Lok Rakshak Dal. A media organisation had raised an objection to it. We have taken that into account and replaced them with experienced and trained men.”

Officials at the Special Branch and Ahmedabad Police Headquarters,on the other hand,said it was part of routine change of duty.

Bhatt’s wife,Shweta,had written twice to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram requesting him to intervene and ensure tight security for the IPS officer. Following her first letter,the central government had asked the state government to ensure adequate security to Bhatt and his family as per the local threat perception.

The Home Ministry had also said that they were independently carrying out threat assessment at their level.

After Bhatt was arrested on September 30,the security officers at his house were changed. The Ahmedabad Police Headquarters,which sends the policemen in three shifts to Bhatt’s house,had posted new recruits,who had no prior experience of providing security at VIP residences or important buildings.

The policemen armed with .303 rifle were posted at Bhatt’s house after he wrote to the state government five times in February and March that he and his family needed security.

Following this,the sate Intelligence Bureau had ordered an assessment and asked Ghatlodia police to prepare a report. The Ghatlodia police had concluded in their report that Bhatt “may be” given a Y category security.