Security of some UP ministers, leaders scaled down

Lucknow: The Union Home Ministry has downsized security of three ministers in the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet and many other leaders in the state, an official said on Tuesday.

The Cabinet ministers whose security has been downsized include Law Minister Brajesh Pathak, Animal Husbandry Minister S.P. Singh Baghel and Stamp and Registration Minister Nand Gopal Gupta 'Nandi'.

Central paramilitary forces personnel deployed in the duty of these ministers have been withdrawn from the security detail and asked to report back to their New Delhi headquarters.

In a recent review of the security threat to these ministers, the Home Ministry found that there was "no such threat" and ordered the scaling down of their security.

Extra security of Minister Rajendra Singh aka Moti Singh has also been withdrawn as has been of state president of Bharatiya Janata Party's youth wing Subrat Pathak and senior party leader Jugul Kishore.

Security of various leaders with shady and criminal backgrounds has also been axed. These include former Minister Thakur Jaiveer Singh, Brajesh Saurabh and mafia don-turned politicians Guddu Pandit and Dhananjay Singh.

IANS