Rahul Gandhi’s 375 security personnel to be changed

A day after senior Congress leaders met Union home minister Rajnath Singh regarding a threat to the life of party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, the home ministry has decided to change the entire team of 375 security personnel deployed to protect him. These include personnel from the elite Special Protection Group, commandos from the Special Deployment Group of the CRPF and the Delhi police.

Top ministry sources said the new team would be deployed only after stringent background verification (BGV). Though all police personnel deployed on VIP duty have to undergo mandatory BGV screening, in the case of SPG protectees it is being made even more stringent now.

Senior Congress leaders had met Mr Singh on Monday after an anonymous letter was received by former Congress minister V. Narayanasamy threatening to attack Mr Gandhi during an election meeting in Puducherry.