Chandigarh, January 13
A day after a former Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, levelled allegations that the Punjab Chief Minister and also the Central Government wanted to get him killed, the Punjab Police today decided to strengthen his security cover.
The Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, has okayed additional
security, including two more cars, for the Leader of the Opposition.
A spokesman of the state police said it had been decided to depute one more non-gazetted official, two Head Constables and eight constables along with providing two additional security vehicles to the former Chief Minister.
The decision was taken in view of Mr Badal's increased mobility during the ongoing electioneering and some reports published in the media regarding his concerns about his security, the spokesman added.
In June, 2005, Mr Badal had kicked up a storm when he had returned his bullet-proof car and a Maruti Gypsy which were part of his security apparatus, saying the vehicles were in a "bad condition". Mr Badal had then alleged that he had informed the state police several times about the condition of the vehicles but these were not replaced.
Two days later a bullet-proof car from the fleet of the Chief Minister was made available to Mr Badal.
