CRPF to guard Pratibha Patil’s Pune bungalow

Union Home Ministry has tasked the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to deploy a contingent of about 25 to 30 personnel to render “static guard” and sentry duties at the bungalow.

CRPF,which is mostly used for anti-Naxal operations in the country,has been drawn into static guard or installations security duty after a long time. The troops for this task will be drawn from a battalion based in north India,it said.

Currently,Pune police are providing security to the bungalow with about a dozen policemen from the police headquarters,guarding the bungalow in three shifts.

Sources in Pune Police said that they are not aware of the deployment of paramilitary squad. “We are not aware of any such development. Currently the city police is providing security to the bungalow,with policemen drawn from the police headquarters,” said an official,who added that that there was a threat perception from the Chaturshringi Hill,and in order to neutralise that,plans would be made to restrict access to a part of the hill close to Patil’s bungalow. “However,so far,no such proposal has been prepared,” he said.

Soon after she got the bungalow,after giving up her earlier house allotted in Khadki,a security review report,apparently prepared by the office of Pune Police Commissioner,raised security concerns,stating that the bungalow was unsuitable for the former President due to its proximity to the hills.

The Central Public Works Department handed over the key to the bungalow after over six months of renovation. Patil moved in on May 30.