Z security for Som: 'No inputs taken from UP'

BJP MLA Sangeet Som is a Muzaffarnagar riot accused

Amid the controversy over the Centre according Z security to BJP MLA Sangeet Som, a Muzaffarnagar riots accused, UP government today said no inputs were taken from it on the issue even as it maintained that it will continue to provide him Y category security as per a High Cout order.

"Security is the state subject. In this particular case, no input was taken by the Centre from the state before providing him the security," Secretary, Home, Kamal Saxena said.

He said there were rules and norms for providing security and it was reviewed during a meeting of IB and state officers every six months. On that basis, security could be continued or withdrawn.

Saxena also said there were examples when Centre had earlier given secruity to leaders directly.

However, when asked, he did not name any leaders.

The official said that on the directives of High Court and after analysing threat perception, the state had provided Y category security to the legislator and it would continue along with the Z security.

Based on intelligence inputs that Som, MLA from Sardhana in western Uttar Pradesh, could be targeted by extremist elements, the Union Home Ministry decided to bring him under the security umbrella of the commandos of the central paramilitary force CRPF.

"We have received a letter from the Centre regarding upgradation of Som's security to Z category," Uttar Pradesh's IG (Law and Order) Amrendra Singh Sengar told PTI earlier.

The letter has been forwarded to the agency concerned, Singh added.

The move to provie Z category security by the Centre came under scathing attack from Opposition which termed it as a "license for killing" and a cruel joke with the victims.

The BJP defended the move, saying the decision to provide security is taken based on "sufficient evidence" from intelligence sources and not on "whims and fancies".