SPG cover for Rahul will go up

In addition to a new security team, it has also been decided to increase the SPG personnel for Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s immediate ring round team (RRT), the first cordon of security. At present there are about 10 to 12 SPG commandos in the RRT for Mr Gandhi and this number is expected to be doubled now, sources said.

“A new outer security cordon is being added to Rahul Gandhi’s Tughlaq Road residence which will be done by the Delhi police which will also have a Quick Response Team (QRT) stationed there. The SDG of CRPF commandos will form the second ring of the security cordon at the residence,” a senior ministry official said.

The SPG will also act as a nodal agency for coordinating with various state police forces whenever Mr Gandhi is travelling, particularly at events that attract large crowds, like election meetings. As an immediate measure the local police will be asked to put in place a cordon of 500 policemen around the stage from where the Congress vice-president will address the election rally. This area will be converted into a complete sterile zone and only authorised persons will be provided access.

The SPG may also seek provision jammers in Mr Gandhi’s convoy wherever they are available with the state police. “In case the state police does not have these jammers, the SPG will see whether the same can be sent from Delhi. We are taking this threat to the Congress leader very seriously and are making foolproof arrangements for him,” the official added.

While the SPG has already started working on the new security blueprint, the Intelligence Bureau has launched a major investigation into the threatening letter received by Mr Narayanasamy. A team from the intelligence agency is also being sent to Puducherry for further investigations in association with the local police there.