The Hindu : Front Page : Row over VIP security for Sanjay Dutt

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Tuesday, Sep 04, 2007
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Row over VIP security for Sanjay Dutt

— PHOTO: PTI

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt on his way to the Vaishnodevi shrine at Ban Ganga in Katra on Sunday.

Jammu: Actor Sanjay Dutt’s visit on Monday to the Vaishnodevi cave shrine near Jammu in a government car and police escort has raised a controversy. He is on interim bail in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.

“Dutt visited the shrine like all other devotees and no special arrangements were made for him,” additional chief executive officer of the shrine board Puneet Kumar told PTI from Katra.

Dutt refused to comment on the controversy over the VIP security provided to him but the police justified it as part of a security drill for important personalities.

“I have no idea about it,” Dutt told reporters at the airport here after returning from the shrine. He did not respond to any other question. He only said “Jai mata di” as he left for Mumbai

Although no special arrangements were made for him during darshan, the CRPF and police provided foolproof security through the yatra and return to Jammu. The State government apprehended he could be an “easy target” for militants.

‘Cannot compromise’

“We cannot compromise with the security of any VIP,” a police spokesman said. — PTI

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