BJP MLA Suresh Rana (seen behind Uma Bharati) has been given Z category security
The BJP's riot-accused lawmaker in Uttar Pradesh, Suresh Rana, has been given Z category security by the Centre, which means he is now among the country's most protected politicians.
Mr Rana was arrested on charges of allegedly making inflammatory speeches in the days before the riots in Muzaffarnagar in 2013 that left over 60 people dead. He is currently out on bail.
The legislator will have up to 32 commandos protecting him 24 hours, besides a pilot car and an escort. Till now, he had 11 personnel as part of Y category security given by the state government.
The Centre says Mr Rana's security was upgraded after a "local review" showed he faced increased threats. The legislator claims he is in danger because of "false cases" against him.
"The high court dropped charges under the National Security Act against me. Because the UP government slapped false cases on us after the riots, there are many people who want to harm us," Mr Rana told NDTV.
The home ministry had faced strong criticism after granting Z category security cover to another riot accused lawmaker of the BJP, Sangeet Som, in August.
During last year's national election campaign, the two legislators had been controversially felicitated at a rally that Narendra Modi addressed in Agra.
Reacting to the security upgrade for the riot-accused legislators, Samajwadi Party spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said "Those who were responsible for disrupting peace and inciting violence are being feted by the BJP."