New guidelines for PM’s security

New Delhi, June 26

The Union Home Ministry on Tuesday issued fresh security guidelines to the states in the wake of an “all-time high” threat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

  As per the new guidelines, not even ministers and officers would be allowed to come too close to the PM, unless cleared by the Special Protection Group (SPG).

A senior MHA official said the security and Intelligence agencies had indicated that the threat to the PM’s life was at an “all-time high” and for those after him, he is the “most valuable” target. 

As the 2019 General Election draws near and the campaign kicks off, the “vulnerability is likely to increase further”, he added.

Citing an “unknown threat” to the PM, the official said, the MHA, in its communication to the states, asked them that no one, not even ministers and officers, be allowed to come too close to the PM, unless a “prior clearance” was granted by the SPG.

The SPG has reportedly advised Modi to avoid road shows and instead go in for addressing public rallies as these are easier to manage.

The close protection team (CPT) for the PM’s security has been briefed about the new set of rules and the threat assessment.

The PM’s security apparatus was reviewed threadbare recently after the Pune police told a court on June 7 that they had seized a “letter” from the Delhi residence of one of the five persons arrested for having alleged “links” with the banned CPI (Maoist), another official said. — TNS