Mumbai, June 18 -- Security has been increased at the residences of six rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs, official sources said on Thursday, amid rising political tensions within the party and growing speculation over internal defections.

According to official sources, special security arrangements have been made at their homes and offices following threats to the rebel MPs.

The development comes at a time when six of the party's Lok Sabha MPs skipped the parliamentary meeting in New Delhi earlier in the day. Only Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai, Rajabhau Waje, all Lok Sabha MPs, and Sanjay Raut himself were present at today's meeting called by Desai. The remaining Lok Sabha MPs, Nagesh Aashtikar, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Din...