Baba Siddique murder: Zeeshan’s security was upgraded 23 days ago

Days before the murder of veteran politician Baba Siddique his son Bandra East MLA Zeeshan Siddique was provided security equivalent to the Y escort category According to sources Zeeshan had cited threats while requesting this protection The State Intelligence Department SID after verifying the threat granted the security 20 days before the assassinationSources close to Zeeshan said the security detail includes three constables who remain by the legislatorrsquos side round the clock and an escort vehicle The arrangement was in place 20 days before the incident ldquoWe have provided him security equivalent to Y escort with a local component which is taken care of by the city police since it is not categorisedrdquo said a senior officialZeeshan Siddique during the funeral of his father Baba Siddique at Bada Kabrastan in Marine Lines on October 13 PicAtul KambleAccording to sources the Mumbai Police had not received any formal complaints of threats from Zeeshan or his late father ldquoThe security equivalent to Y escort was provided to Zeeshan based on his request and was handled by the SID not the Mumbai Policerdquo a senior officer of the Mumbai Police had saidAccording to sources the MLA was provided police security as per the standard operating procedure but this can be enhanced based on the threat perception A Mumbai MLA who did not wish to be named said that he had 22 security where two constables remained with him 247 According to the legislator some MLAs are provided with only one constableAccording to sources after the government led by Eknath Shindersquos Shiv Sena faction came to power new security categories equivalent to X Y and Z were introduced based on the recommendations of a committee led by the additional chief secretary home and the SID commissioner When a person is granted equivalent security by the SID the responsibility is passed on to the local commissionerate and district superintendent of police SP who are in charge of implementing it while the Special Protection Unit SPU monitors the arrangementsMunawar Faruqui File picSatej ShindeIn Zeeshanrsquos case as he resides within the Mumbai Police Commissioneratersquos jurisdiction the Mumbai Police handles his security with oversight from the SPU of the SIDHow category is determinedSources further revealed that security for public representatives is provided upon request with the category determined based on threat perception In Mumbai some MLAs have just one constable on duty 247 while others have two ldquoThe number of police personnel is decided based on a threat perception report TPR If the person faces specific threats they are given security equivalent to categorised levelsrdquo an officer familiar with the SPU statedBaba Siddique had 12 protection from the Mumbai Police meaning one constable was assigned during the day and two at night After his murder several politicians claimed that Siddique had Y security but the Mumbai Police denied this ldquoBaba Siddique did not have categorised security He was provided normal protection by the Mumbai Policerdquo DCP Datta Nalawade of the Mumbai Crime Branch said during a press briefingon SundayMunawar Faruqui another targetThe Mumbai police have provided protection to comedian Munawar Faruqui after he complained about receiving death threats While various reports claimed that the threats were from the Bishnoi gang the police have not confirmed this ldquoWe have provided him protectionrdquo a senior police officer stated According to sources in September this year Faruqui was scheduled to attend an event in Delhi However the Delhi Policersquos Special Cell received specific inputs that a plan to murder him was in place at the event Faruqui was informed and disallowed from attending He was sent back to Mumbai under protection and the Mumbai Police were alerted leading to an increase in his security Sources have said that in connection with the murder of businessman Nadir Shah in Delhi an arrested shooter revealed to the Delhi police that they were told to conduct a recce at Surya Hotel where Faruqui was supposed to stay in September Following this the police ensured Faruquirsquos safe return to Mumbai and enhanced his security