Maninderjeet Singh Bitta demands inquiry into security withdrawal, 'attacks'

NEW DELHI: All India Anti Terrorist Front Chairman M S Bitta has urged Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to initiate a high-level inquiry into the sudden withdrawal of security provided to him and attacks allegedly carried out by "terrorists" on him.

In his letter, Bitta urged Singh to initiate a high-level inquiry by a special investigation team (SIT) or CBI to unravel the mystery behind the sudden security withdrawal (ITBP commandos) of September 1993; withdrawal of NSG commandos on October 15, 2010; and the planning behind the attacks carried out in May 1992 (in) Amritsar and numerous attacks of the past by terrorists on his life."

Bitta claimed that a senior Punjab Police official had written letters to a central intelligence agency and Delhi Police communicating theat to Bitta's life, but the warning was ignored.

In 1993, members of a terror outfit had triggered a bomb blast outside the office of the Indian Youth Congress in Delhi, allegedly targeting Bitta who was then the president of the youth wing. Nine persons died in the blast and Bitta was one of the 40 persons who sustained serious injuries.

The security provided to Bitta was suddenly withdrawn in 1993 with alleged pressure from political circles upon intelligence officials, Bitta said in his letter to Singh, sent on March 5, adding, the Z+ security provided to him, which included NSG commandos, was removed in 2010.

"The NSG security was removed to harass and make me vulnerable... I am less of a victim of the terrorists and more of political terrorism enacted against me in the past," he said.

Bitta asked the Home Minister to expose the "then coterie of powerful politicians, bureaucrats who influenced the MHA officials, central intelligence officials to weaken and downgrade my security".