Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Sept 1: The Union Minister for the Food Processing Industry and the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, who already has Z-Plus security cover, has received a death threat sent to him through an unsigned communication via post warning him that ‘he would soon be killed by hardcore terrorists.’
This was revealed by M Paswan’s office on Tuesday.
Following the receipt of the threat, Paswan’s office took the matter seriously and wrote to the Union Home Secretary, seeking an urgent investigation into the origin and authenticity of the communication and a review of the Minister’s security arrangements.
The matter has also been conveyed to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and was also brought to the attention of the CRPF and the Bihar government, Mr Paswan’s home state.
In a letter addressed to the Union Home Secretary, Alok Kumar, Additional Private Secretary to Union Minister Chirag Paswan, said the matter concerned the personal security of the Union Minister, who is currently under Z-category security cover provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The letter said, “An unsigned communication containing two mobile numbers was received in the Ministry today. Upon opening the same, it was found to contain a direct threat to the life of the Hon’ble Union Minister of Food Processing Industries.” “You will be killed shortly by hardcore terrorists,” the letter read.
“The contents of the communication, particularly the direct nature of the threat and the reference to “hardcore terrorists-, are a matter of grave concern and give rise to serious apprehensions regarding the safety and security of the Hon’ble Minister,” read the letter from Paswan’s secretary. It added that the matter be taken up urgently for investigation and the question of the minister’s security be looked into and scaled up if need be.
The original communication was also enclosed with the letter for examination by authorities.
The office also requested a review of the Minister’s existing security arrangements and their augmentation, if deemed necessary, in view of the reported threat perception and his scheduled public engagements. “It is further requested that the security arrangements of the Minister may be reviewed and suitably augmented, as considered necessary, in view of the threat perception and his scheduled public engagements,” the letter stated.
The communication to the Home Secretary urged that the matter be treated with ‘utmost urgency and priority.’