Minister Shankar Rao's security beefed up

A day after he publicly accused the Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy of ignoring the threats to his life, the State Police on Saturday increased the security cover for Handlooms and Textiles Minister Dr P Shankar Rao.

However, Director General of Police V Dinesh Reddy clarified that the Chief Minister has issued instructions to provide adequate security for Dr Shankar Rao. "The Chief Minister has ordered for strengthening of the security arrangements made to Dr Shankar Rao," he said.

The DGP said that following the Chief Minister's instructions, a committee consisting of IGP Intelligence and Joint Commissioner (Coordination and Security) was constituted to review and recommend adequate security arrangements to Dr Shankar Rao. After a detailed analysis of threat perception and a thorough review and assessment of the existing arrangements, the committee made specific recommendations.

"Based on its recommendations, exclusive security in the form of PSOs, Escort, Guards and Picket totalling 32 personnel has been provided to the Minister since July 24 this year. Apart from this, local police has been instructed to surprise the security arrangements by periodic and regular visits by Rakshaks, Local SI, CI, ACP, DCP and other senior officials," Dinesh Reddy said.

The DGP said that depending on the local situations additional security arrangements were being made over and above the security already mentioned, whenever the Minister visits the districts.