Riot-accused BJP legislator Sangeet Som to get 'Z-security' cover

Som, who is accused by the police of abetting riots in Uttar Pradesh's Muzzaffarnagar last year, has been given special 'Z-category' security cover by the union home ministry.

According to media sources, Sangeet has said that he is facing life threat  and has urged the Centre to provide him adequate security.

He has now been given bulletproof cars and around 30 security guards. The UP government said he had originally been given 'Y' category security after a court order, but ​now ​it​​s been upgraded by the Centre.

Sangeet Som, BJP MLA from Sa​r​dhana assembly seat in Meerut has been accused of making hate speeches in Muzaffarnagar and uploading a "fake video" that according to police triggered the riots. In the violence then, at least 60 died and 40,000 people were displaced. He was later released in November that year.

But, the Centre's decision has sparked a political uproar. Congress has led a scathing attack on Centre right after the decision.

Party spokesperson Manish Tewari has said, "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."

"A man who is a rioter himself has been given such security. The BJP government is responsible for that," quipped Nationalist Congress Party(NCP) leader Tariq Anwar.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has of course rubbished the allegations. NDTV reported that the  MHA officials said extra security cover was given to S​angeet​ "purely on merit" and not after any political intervention.

Intelligence agencies, they claim, have corroborated the claims made by the legislator. They have intercepted phone conversations that indicate threats to the controversial politician's life.