Following specific information about a threat to the life of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde prior to the Dussehra rallies of the two Shiv Sena factions and less than a week after the Centre's decision to outlaw the Popular Front of India, security has been stepped up for him. Ashutosh Dumbre, the State Intelligence Commissioner, said that there was concrete information regarding a danger to the Chief Minister's life. The threat, according to a different officer, concerned a suicide bomber.
Since the Chief Minister has been touring Navratri mandals and attending events like parties and public gatherings, the timing of the threat is critical. Devendra Fadnavis, the Deputy Chief Minister in charge of the Home Department, has requested the state director general of police, Mumbai's police commissioner, and Mr. Dumbre to form a high-level committee to find the source of the threat and has directed the police to increase Mr. Shinde's protection.
Both the Chief Minister's personal mansion in Thane and his official residence, Varsha, on Malabar Hill, have increased security. After attending a public event, Mr. Shinde responded to the threat by saying, "I do not care about such threats. Devendra Fadnavis, the home minister, and the Mumbai Police are capable of handling them, and we have faith in them. Such threats haven't intimidated me in the past, and they won't worry me in the future either. I won't let anyone stop me from serving the public.
The chief minister claimed that while serving as a minister in the state government, he had previously faced threats from Naxals and other anti-national groups. He declared, "This is a security-related concern. The Mumbai Police and DCM Fadnavis are more than capable of handling such threats. Any attempt will fail, no matter who makes it. A month prior, a letter of menace was delivered to Mr. Shinde's office in Mantralaya. Threats were also made against the Chief Minister at Ashadhi Ekadashi.
The Chief Minister is on the list of terrorists, according to Minister of Education Deepak Kesarkar. He took action against Naxalites when he was Gadchiroli's guardian minister. His life is at risk as a result. We therefore always advise him against leaving his security detail and entering the crowd. Due to this, we have lost two prime ministers. The Chief Minister enjoys support. He will need to be cautious, though. If he doesn't, his vision of developing Maharashtra won't come true, Mr. Kesarkar continued.
Image Courtesy: BMC Elections 2022