Anna Hazare's life in danger, give him Z+ security: Lawyer to state

After threat calls to activist Anna Hazare’s Ralegan Siddhi office, his lawyer asks the state to provide him with the high-security cover whenever he is on tour out of state

After threat calls were received at his office in Ralegan Siddhi village, social activist Anna Hazare’s lawyer Milind Pawar has requested the state government to provide Z plus security to the anti-corruption crusader even if he refuses it.

Anna Hazare shows his ink-marked finger after casting his vote at a polling station in Ralegan Siddhi, Ahmednagar on Thursday. Pic/PTI

Advocate Pawar has written to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Home Minister RR Patil to provide additional security cover to Hazare whenever he is on tour outside Maharashtra.

Pawar said, “Anna Hazare has opposed the candidature of NCP leader Padmasinh Patil from Usmanabad constituency. After Anna’s opposition to Patil, several threat calls have been received at Anna’s office.

Padmasinh Patil, an accused in the murder of Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar, was earlier arrested in 2009 when CBI found in its investigations that Patil had conspired to kill Anna. If Patil loses the Lok Sabha elections, then it will be only because of Anna, and hence he faces life threat from Patil.”

Shyam Pathade, an aide of Anna, has lodged a complaint under section 507 (criminal intimidation) against unknown suspects at the Parner police station. According to the complaint, the threat calls were made between April 9 to 14 during which the anonymous caller threatened Hazare of dire consequences if distribution of pamphlets against Patil was not stopped.

Pathade said, “Anna is actively campaigning against Patil in Usmanabad. He wanted to go on a hunger strike against his candidature, but was denied permission by electoral officials.”

He added, “The Z-grade security currently provided to Anna is insufficient. We know that Anna will say no to any security upgrade, but the government should provide Z-plus security to him,” Pawar added.

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