'Surprised' says Cong as Muzaffarnagar riots accused Sangeet Som gets Z+ security cover

Muzaffarnagar riots accused BJP MLA Sangeet Som has been granted Z+ security cover by the Union government after intelligence inputs suggested a threat to his life, media reports said on Tuesday. [caption id=“attachment_1682155” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  BJP MLA Sangeet Som has been granted Z category protection by the home ministry. PTI[/caption] Several leaders criticized the move by the NDA government. Congress leader Manish Tewari said it was unfortunate that victims of the riots were still homeless, while those accused were being protected by the government. “It is very surprising and this government is very unique that the victims of riots are roaming homeless here and there and those who are responsible for riots are being provided Z security,” Tewari said. News agency ANI quoted another Congress leader Rashid Alvi as saying, “See, I am surprised at how a person against whom there is an FIR for communal violence is provided with Z+ security. Those who are the reason for the riots are being provided security and those who are the victims are without shelter. I condemn this.” Even the Samajwadi Party said that the decision to provide security to a riot accused is ‘unfortunate’ Som had been booked under the National Security Act for allegedly instigating riots in Muzaffarnagar, after a controversial video uploaded by him went viral. He was also booked for inflammatory speeches which were among the reasons that led to communal violence leaving 65 people dead in September last year. According to a report in The Indian Express, a high-level security committee under the home ministry decided to grant the security status to Som. One of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will be assigned the responsibility, the report added quoting government sources. “This is one of the cases where we have decided to accord security purely on merit and not due to any political intervention. Intelligence agencies have several phone intercepts wherein extreme outfits and individuals are making plans to kill Som. We are not going into the legal cases slapped on him by the UP police. Irrespective of that, he has a threat to his life,” a home ministry official told the daily. What are the perks given to a Z category protectee? At any given point of time, the person is protected by a security ring of not less than 22 personnel. The person can also avail security cover by the ITBP, CRPF and the local police. The protectee is also given an escort car.