PC, Pillai's security upgraded following Maoist threat

NEW DELHI: The Centre has beefed up the security of Union home minister P Chidambaram and home secretary G K Pillai following intelligence reports, which suggest fresh threats to their lives from ultra-Left rebels.
The renewed threat comes in the wake of the killing of one of the top CPI (Maoist) leader and spokesperson Chirukuri Rajkumar alias Azad in an encounter in Andhra Pradesh on July 2, and the threat of Maoists to avenge the loss of their leader.
Though both Chidambaram and Pillai have been on Naxals' hit list for long, the intelligence inputs have pointed out at some fresh activities on the ground, prompting the home ministry to take extra precautions.
Sources in security agencies said though Chidambaram does not avail the Z+ security cover -- despite being put under this category on the basis of threat perception -- efforts are on to impress upon him the dire need to increase the number of security personnel to provide proximate security to him.
Unlike other Z+ category protectees, who are surrounded by 20 armed security personnel, an escort and a pilot, Chidambaram usually avails of only a couple of personal security officers (PSOs) and an escort. He is learnt to have been informed about the fresh threat and requested to utilise the full strength of security personnel around him, at least, whenever he moves out of the capital.
The ministry has also heightened the security of Pillai by upgrading the weapons of his three PSOs. Pillai's PSOs have started carrying AK-47s, instead of small arms earlier, following a review of his security.
Pillai, 60, currently enjoys `Z' category security. The `Z' category protectee is entitled to 13 security personnel, include three PSOs and an escort.