Delhi Police says, Appropriate security arrangements made for Kejriwal

Delhi Police on Thursday said that it had made all appropriate security arrangements to escort Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at the Delhi railway station where he was allegedly heckled by BJP women activists in the morning.

Refuting the Delhi government’s allegations that the force did not act despite being alerted of a possible attack on the chief minister, police said that they had no prior intimation about it.

“Today the entire carcade had gone to drop him (Kejriwal) off at the station. The district police, as well as officials from the Delhi Police's Security wing, were also present to escort him. There was adequate security with the presence of our officials as well as district police at the railway station. The security wing wasn’t intimated about the protests by the CM office,” said a senior Delhi Police officer.

Activists led by Delhi BJP Mahila Morcha president Kamaljeet Sehrawat raised slogans against and waved bangles towards Kejriwal, who arrived at platform number 1 of New Delhi Railway Station to board the train for Punjab at around 7 AM today.

Police said the CM was escorted safely to the train despite the protest. “Our people took him away from the protesters and helped him board the train. Two PSOs have accompanied during the train journey as per the security norms. After handing him over to Punjab Police, they will return to Delhi, said the officer.

Delhi Police also informed its counterparts in Punjab about the possibility of protests during the CM’s visit.

“Since there were women protesters in the morning at the Delhi Railway station, we requested the Punjab Police to deploy adequate women cops since there could be women protesters at the Ludhiana station,” added the officer.

Accusing the Delhi Police of leaking sensitive information about Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s whereabouts after he was manhandled by protesters, the AAP had termed the development as a “security breach”.

Yesterday, Delhi government sources claimed that Delhi Police “declined” security to Chief Minister Kejriwal for his five-day visit to Punjab although personnel of local police had accompanied him on his earlier trips outside Delhi.

However, police said that it was following the security norms and had informed its counterparts in Punjab to provide security to the CM.

“”We didn’t refuse to provide him security. He is leaving Delhi for Punjab for a five-day visit. As per the security norms, if he goes by train or car, we are supposed to drop him at the first place of destination in the other place and thereafter the state police takes over,” a senior officer had said