HYDERABAD, Jan 4: A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) assistant commandant, armed with a revolver, made an abortive bid to enter the room where Prime Minister I K Gujral was staying at the Raj Bhavan here yesterday. The incident led to mild tension forcing the police to further tighten the security at Raj Bhavan.CRPF additional Director-General K R Karthikeyan and his wife called on the Prime Minister at about 8.50 p.m. A few minutes later, the assistant commandant came with a bouquet and told the security personnel at the main entrance that the additional DG wanted him to take the bouquet to the Prime Minister.
The security staff allowed him inside. However, the Special Protection Group (SPG) personnel stopped him near the room, frisked the assistant commandant and found that he was armed.
The officer entered into an argument with the SPG personnel when he was told that he should not carry a weapon while going to meet the Prime Minister.
On hearing the commotion, senior officials of the city
police who were supervising the security arrangements at Raj Bhavan rushed there. The unrelenting assistant commandant insisted that he should be allowed inside. But, police and SPG officials told him that severe action would be initiated against him if he tried to bulldoze his way into the room.
Meanwhile, other police officials intervened and took him out. It was not known immediately, whether Karthikeyan himself had asked the assistant commandant to bring the bouquet or he came on his own.
Senior police officials told ENS that the assistant commandant, whose identity was not disclosed, was not arrested.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
