Security cover for Sachin reduced, Aaditya Thackeray gets an upgrade

Mumbai: Maharashtra government rejigs security of 45-odd high-profile citizens and politicians, where cricket Master-Blaster Sachin Tendulkar's ‘X’ category security was withdrawn, while Shiv Sena MLA Aaditya Thackeray gets an upgrade from ‘Y+’ to ‘Z’. The decisions came after threat perception committee meet in view of reduced threat perception to the VVIPs.

According to an IPS officer, Sachin was given ‘X’ category security with a police constable round the clock; now that cover has been withdrawn but the cricketer may be given a police escort.

Among others, BJP leader Eknath Khadse, who had ‘Y’ security along with an escort, will now not have the escort.

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Former Uttar Pradesh governor, Ram Naik’s ‘Z+’ cover has been reduced to ‘X’, and lawyer Ujjwal Nikam’s ‘Z+’ cover has been downgraded to Y, along with an escort. However, Anna Hazare’s cover has been upgraded from ‘Y+’ to ‘Z’.

The security cover revamp came after the threat perception committee meet, where the panel had reviewed the security provided to 97 people. The cover was either reduced or enhanced for 29 people and decategorized for 16 people.

It is to be mentioned that the panel meets once in three months to take stock of the situation. “It’s an in-depth study based on inputs from intelligence agencies and local police stations and independent information. The committee then takes a decision on enhancing or reducing the cover,’’ a senior IPS officer told.

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