Centre asks Modi govt to ensure security of Bhatt, family

The Centre on Tuesday asked the Narendra Modi government to provide adequate security to arrested IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt and his family following an appeal from his wife. Bhatt had levelled allegations against the Gujarat chief minister in connection with 2002 post-Godhra riots.

Soon after receiving a letter from Bhatt's wife Shweta expressing apprehensions that he could be "physically ill-treated" and that there was "danger to his life" from a "vindictive administration", Home Secretary R K Singh convened a high-level meeting to take stock of her complaint.

"The home ministry has written to the Gujarat government to ensure adequate security to Bhatt and his family as per local threat perception," a home ministry official said.

The central government has also decided to carry out an independent assessment on the threat perception to Bhatt and his family members.

"We are also independently carrying out threat assessment at our level," the official said.

The action came after Shweta wrote a letter to Home Minister P Chidambaram asking him to provide security to her husband and the family and appealed to him to ensure that his human rights are not violated.

Bhatt was arrested last Friday on the basis of the FIR filed against him by police constable K D Pant for allegedly threatening him and forcing to sign a false affidavit with regard to a meeting called by Modi on February 27, 2002, hours after the Godhra train carnage.