Security to all MPs not to be increased

New Delhi, Mar 5 (UNI) The Union Home Ministry tonight clarified it would not give increased security to all public functionaries in the wake of the gunning down of JMM MP Sunil Mahto at a function in Jharkhand yesterday, but said decisions on such issues were taken on the basis of the threat perception of an individual leader .

"Essentially it is state governments' responsibility. Every area is not hypher- sensitive or every public functionary is handling sensitive issues. However, we will get on to the exercise of identifying hypher sensitive areas and publicmen dealing with sensitive issues," Home Secretary V K Duggal told newspersons.

He was asked if the government would provide increased security to people's representatives, especially in naxal-affected areas, in the light of the killing of Mr Mahto.

Mr Duggal said there was a system at present to assess the security threat perceptions of public leaders and provide them suitable security. "We give advice to the state governments in this regard." He said the Home Ministry received a report from the Jharkhand government this afternoon. "It is a preliminary report. It is rather brief, but a first-hand account. There is no general analysis of the situation." Mr Duggal said combing operations had already started in and around the area where the incident had taken place and also in neighbouring areas of West Bengal. "We will nab the culprits soon." The Home Secretary said yesterday's incident "apparently looks like a retaliatory action as the slain MP was a leading voice against the naxal movement and was very active in anti-naxal campaign.

While unequivocally condemning the incident, he said the incident was an act of desperation caused by the good counter-insurgency operations on the ground in Jharkhand.

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