Anna Hazare agrees to additional police security

Authorities have decided to beef up the security arrangements for activist Anna Hazare in his village Ralegan Siddhi in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra.

Ahmednagar Superintendent of Police Krishna Prakash told rediff.com that there was no threat to Hazare right now, but as part of the regular review of his security, the local administration has decided to increase the number of personnel guarding the Gandhian.

Interestingly, Hazare has always been averse to having a detailed personal security arrangement. But he has accepted the administration's request to enhance his security this time, albeit with certain conditions.

Hazare has demanded that the policemen guarding him should not be in uniform. They can carry firearms, he said, but those should not be visible to the public.

Two months ago, the state home ministry had informed the local administration that there was a threat to the Gandhian's life. There is no specific threat this time but the state government doesn't want to take any chances, said Krishna Prakash.

Though the home ministry has not ordered a specific security review, the SP had come to Ralegan Siddhi for a routine review of Hazare's security arrangements.