Lucknow: The security cover for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati and Director General of Police (DGP) Vikram Singh has been significantly tightened in view of the Mumbai terror attacks, an official said.

While Mayawati’s security has been beefed up to an unprecedented level and its charge has been entrusted to an inspector-general rank officer - very much on the lines of prime minister’s security, the state's top cop too has got a larger security network not only for himself but also for his family.

This became apparent at the wedding of Vikram Singh's son Tuesday night, when the venue - Taj Residency - was virtually turned into a fortress, leaving other guests and visitors completely harried.

The 2 km distance from the DGP’s official residence to the hotel was turned into what looked like curfew-bound area with cops stationed at every few metres along both sides of the road. Parking in and around the hotel was barred for anyone other than the top cop’s guests.

“I went with my family to have dinner at the Taj last night (Tuesday) but it was impossible to get in there - thanks to the wedding of the state police chief’s son. We were neither allowed to park inside nor in the outer radius of more than half a kilometre of the hotel, so we had to find another place to eat," said Rashmi Kumar, a young working woman.

“We were literally shoed off by a heavy contingent of cops managing traffic outside the hotel. They asked us if we had an invitation card for the DGP’s function and when we replied in the negative, we were told to look for parking outside on the road where no parking was allowed," complained Rajul Johri, a Non-Resident Indian, who had gone there to host a meal for his aged parents.

DGP Vikram Singh had not very long ago himself sought “Z-Plus” security for himself as he claimed that his life was “under threat”.

A senior police official said: “Well all that security was because of the chief minister’s visit to the marriage, not because of the DGP. After what has happened in Mumbai, we cannot take any chances with the chief minister’s security.”

 

Source : ians