Pawar was amenable to increasing the height of the boundary walls of his house in Delhi as part of the enhanced security measures.
'The cost of flying to Prayagraj has gone up six times due to the Kumbh Mela.'
Sixty-one per cent of the Mumbai's 46,000-strong police force has been assigned the job of protecting VIPs and VVIPs in the metropolis that has a population of over 1.25 crore, a whopping 1,184 per cent jump in deployment since 2007. In 2010, nearly 13,010 cops were assigned for VIPs and VVIPs protection duty while the number rose by 48 per cent to 19,349 the next year.
Following a stampede at the Maha Kumbh that killed 30 people, the Uttar Pradesh government has stepped up security measures and crowd management efforts. Despite the tragedy, millions of devotees continue to flock to the religious gathering, undeterred by the pre-dawn chill and dense fog. Security forces are being deployed in larger numbers, and new restrictions will be imposed at key locations to prevent further incidents. The authorities are also conducting a thorough review of the arrangements in the Mela area, and several officials are being assigned to oversee operations until February 12.
The suspect, identified as Vem Miller, was intercepted by police at a checkpoint about a half-mile from an entrance to the rally, police said.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Wednesday asked the Centre to "discourage" frequent visits of Sri Lankan VIPs to the state as the people were "greatly exercised" over the island government's conduct on the Tamils issue.
An alert Punjab Police ASI thwarted a murderous bid on Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Wednesday. The incident took place while Badal was sitting on a wheelchair due to a fractured leg. The attacker, Narain Singh Chaura, a former terrorist, was overpowered by the ASI before he could fire his weapon. The incident has sparked controversy, with the opposition party criticizing the ruling AAP government's security measures.
Ahead of a review meeting, which will be held soon, Home Ministry officials have carried out an exercise and made recommendations for reduction of their security cover.
"For VIP arrivals, unless they have some type of, say, diplomatic visa or exemption, everyone would go through the same type of process. We don't want it to be seen as a hassle," John Wagner, executive director of US Customs and Border Protection's Office of Field Operations, Admissibility and Passenger Programmes, has said
Do you think the VIP ads were obscene? Do you agree with the cops' moral policing move? Or did the police go beyond their brief? Tell us.
The government has provided Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar with a Z-category VIP security cover of armed commandos in view of potential threats against him, official sources said on Tuesday.
The Uttar Pradesh government is expecting over 35 crore pilgrims to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, a significant increase from the 24 crore who attended the 2019 Kumbh Mela. The event, which will take place over 45 days, will feature extensive security and sanitation measures, as well as a digital component. The state government has allocated Rs 7,000 crore for the event.
Narain Singh Chaura, a former Khalistani terrorist, attempted to kill Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Chaura, who had been visiting the temple for two days, opened fire at Badal from close range but missed as he was overpowered by plainclothes policemen. The police have seized a 9 mm pistol from Chaura and are investigating whether any organization was behind the incident or if it was carried out to "gain sympathy".
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The government on Friday said security provided to VIPs could be scale down depending upon the threat perception but made it clear that no unnecessary protection is given to anyone.
However, the number of persons accompanying the VIPs would be restricted.
Shatrughan Vishwakarma was deployed as part of the Special Security Force (SSF) set to provide security at the temple premises.
"It should have gone long ago. Glad that today a strong beginning has been made," prime minister said in response to another tweet.
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit met Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Sunday and urged him to ensure rationalisation of police deployment, including for VIP security, and setting up a separate authority to look into complaints against personnel.
Singh and his wife have been accorded the cover with a strength of about 45 armed commandos who will guard them round-the-clock at their residence on 3, Motilal Nehru Road and during their movement across the country.
The Home Ministry's recommendation to withdraw elite National Security Guard security cover to some VIPs has evoked mixed reactions from political leaders.
Do not approach VVIPs and VIPs for postings. This is the message of the Indian Air Force to its officers and air warriors.
Already flooded with requests for central security cover from more VIPs, the Union home ministry is facing a surge in similar pleas from VIPs in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, after the state governments withdrew their security. Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said trimming of the security cover given to VIPs by the state governments had led to a sudden rush of people approaching his ministry for security cover, after they apprehended threat to their lives.
He does not have a magic wand to solve all of Delhi's problems, but nothing is impossible if honest people join hands, believes soon-to-be Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Saisuresh Sivaswamy/Rediff.com captures glimpses of the activity around the Ram temple on his iPhone 14 Pro.
A commuter had posted a video of the February 18 incident at Rajajinagar Metro station on 'X'.
In a ghastly incident that has sent shock waves across Bihar, former state minister Mukesh Sahni's 70-year-old father was found stabbed to death at his native home in Darbhanga district, a top police officer said.
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Monday advised VIPs not to visit rain-ravaged Uttarakhand saying such visits created difficulties in relief and rescue operations.
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam supremo Jayalalithaa is not getting VIP treatment, but being looked after as any other ordinary prisoner at the Parapanna Agrahara Central prison where she is lodged after conviction in the disproportionate assets case, according to a top jail official.
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When Shah Rukh Khan appears at a KKR game -- like he did, during the IPL 2024 game against the Lucknow Super Giants at the Eden Gardens on Sunday afternoon (a game KKR won by 8 wickets!) -- he is as much the centre of action as the events on the cricket field.
Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Tuesday said that he had asked the Uttarakhand government not to allow any VIP to land in the flood ravaged areas in the state to pre-empt any disturbance to relief work.
The Indian Air Force is planning to procure more Embraer business jets for its Delhi-based communication Squadron for ferrying VIPs.
Free rides on toll roads for the country's VIPs might soon be over. The government is coming up with a new toll policy which might prune the long exemption list of VIPs who do not have to pay toll on national highways.
The man, identified as Narain Singh, was overpowered by some people standing outside the Golden Temple.
'For me, every poor is VIP, every mother, daughter, sister is VIP, every farmer is VIP, every youth is VIP'
The race for VIP perks has pernicious consequences and is undermining the elite's authority.
