BHUBANESWAR: The state government has asked Odisha Police to assess Naveen Patnaik’s security and step up arrangements (if needed) at Naveen Niwas, the residence of the chief minister, following an anonymous letter which talks about a conspiracy to kill him.
Instruction has also been issued to the police to tighten security at the state secretariat and on the route the chief minister takes to various places or during functions.
Santosh Bala, special secretary of the state home department, has recently written a letter (a copy of which was seen by TOI) to the director general of police (DGP), director (intelligence) and the commissionerate of police, Bhubaneswar, asking them to inquire into the matter. Bala also attached the threat letter, received at the residential office of the chief minister, in which the anonymous sender has informed that the contract killers are equipped with latest weapons like AK-47 and semi-automatic pistols. The sender also mentioned a list of 17 vehicles bearing registration number of Odisha, Delhi, Maharashtra, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and West Bengal, which are being used by the contract killers. Police sources said the threat perception is being assessed and based on which appropriate action will be taken. Naveen at present enjoys Z-plus security.
Due to Covid-19, the chief minister attends office work from Naveen Niwas, while taking part in official programmes and important government meetings through video-conference.
In September 2018, a murder accused serving sentence in Bilaspur central jail in Chhattisgarh had allegedly written a letter to Naveen demanding Rs 50 crore and threatening him with dire consequences if he failed to pay the amount. The state government had then informed the Chhattisgarh government following which an inquiry was ordered.