Kejriwal may be abducted to secure Yasin Bhatkal’s release: Sources

mangaloretoday.com

New Delhi, Jan 19: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal may be abducted to demand the release of Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder Yasin Bhatkal, sources said on Sunday. The sensational claim has led the Delhi Police to issue orders to upgrade the security of Kejriwal to Z category.

Sources went on to say that Delhi Police special cell officials briefed Kejriwal on the possible threat to him. Intelligence Bureau has also confirmed the threat.

 

Delhi Police has asked Kejriwal to inform about all his movements in advance. sources said that police might provide him security even if he refuses.

Yasin Bhatkal and his close aide Asadullah Akhtar were arrested by Delhi Police in connection with a September 13, 2008 serial blasts case in Delhi.

Recently Bhatkal had moved a special NIA court claiming there was a threat to their lives inside the high-security Tihar Jail where they are currently lodged.

Kejriwal in his poll manifesto had refused to take security or any escort or Personal Security Officer (PSO).

The Delhi High Court too refused to interfere with the provision of security for the Delhi Chief Minister after the Union government informed it that he has already been provided with security cover.

The court order came in the wake of a PIL filed by a lawyer urging the court to direct Kejriwal to take police security for himself and his ministers.

During the hearing, a division bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said, "He is the Chief Minister, he knows the consequences. He knows the security threat. He is the man to protect all of us. We don’t know the reason why he doesn’t want security. How can we pass any direction then," the court asked.

 

Kejriwal accuses Delhi Police, Centre of playing politics despite IM threat

 

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday lashed out at the state police and accused it of playing politics along with the Central government over providing him security. After reports of intelligence inputs that terror group Indian Mujahideen is planning to abduct him to secure the release of its co-founder Yasin Bhatkal, Kejriwal tweeted that Delhi police should provide security to the aam aadmi instead of him.

"Is Delhi Police and central government playing politics with my security?" he tweeted on Sunday evening.

The AAP leader’s reaction comes in the backdrop of a threat to his life by the Indian Mujahideen which has been confirmed by the Intelligence Bureau.

Delhi Police special cell officials had earlier in the day briefed Kejriwal on the possible threat. The firebrand leader, however, remains adamant on his stand to not take any security. He tweeted, "I am not afraid of my life. As i said, i strongly believe in God. Will not take any security."

The sensational claim has led the Delhi Police to issue orders to upgrade the security of Kejriwal to Z category. Sources tell that the police will go ahead with its decision to provide him security even if he refuses to.

Kejriwal in fact hit back at the state police saying that revelation about the threat to his life has made him more vulnerable. "By announcing this, haven’t police made me vulnerable. Now anyone can attack and it wud be said that Bhatkal’s men did it," he tweeted.

"Police officials met me in afternoon. Informed me about threat. Asked me not to disclose it to media. Then they themselves went and told media," read the tweets posted later on Sunday evening.