Ahmedabad: Describing the withdrawal of his
and his family`s security cover by the state government as
intimidation, IPS officer Sanjeev Bhatt on Friday said it was a
"desperate measure by desperate men who are afraid of the
truth" coming out with regard to the 2002 post-Godhra riots.
However, state DGP Chitranjan Singh`s office said there
was no security threat to Bhatt, but following his demand with
the SIT for security, an armed constable will remain with him
round the clock.
The DGP office here had yesterday issued orders to all
the five security men and a driver deployed with Bhatt to
report to their headquarters in Junagadh immediately or else
their stay outside the headquarters would be termed illegal.
Bhatt claimed that this was the second such order asking
for withdrawal of security for him and his family despite him
being recommended Y-category security by the State
Intelligence Bureau (SIB).
Earlier this month, ADGP (training) had ordered that the
five men and vehicle deployed with Bhatt be sent back to
Junagadh. Bhatt is at present on leave.
"These are intimidatory tactics that would undermine and
jeopardise my safety and security of my family," Bhatt told
mediapersons today.
"Someone (in the government) is afraid of the truth
(about 2002 riots) coming out. This (withdrawal of security)
was a desperate measure by desperate men," he said.
Bhatt, in his affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, had
alleged that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi instructed
officers during a late night meeting held on February 27,
2002, to allow Hindus "to vent out their anger" during the
clashes as he wanted Muslims to be "taught a lesson".
Bhatt, who is posted as principal, State Reserve Police
Training Center (SRPTC), Junagadh, said government had earlier
asked him to relieve the men deployed with him.
"Since I resisted their orders and requested for security
for me and my family, they have now issued orders directly to
the constables to report to their headquarter or else action
could be taken against them," he said, adding the five armed
constables and a driver, along with the official vehicle,
would be sent back to Junagadh today itself.
Bhatt, in a strongly worded letter to DGP today, said,
"despite repeated written requests for providing adequate and
fool-proof security to me and my family, you have continued to
take proactive steps to jeopardise my security and safety of
my family by repeatedly ordering withdrawal of security."
PTI
