News Analysis India

Tag: VIP security cover

  • ISRO chairman Somanath, Maharashtra MP Navneet Rana given VIP security cover by Centre

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Maharashtra MP Navneet Rana and ISRO chairman S Somanath have been provided a central armed VIP security cover by the Union government, officials said on Friday.

    The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) accorded the security cover last week to the two after accepting separate recommendations of central intelligence agencies that favoured armed security of paramilitary commandos to them in view of possible security threats to them.

    Navneet Rana, a member of Lok Sabha from the Amravati seat of Maharashtra, has been accorded ‘Y’ category central cover that would entail about three to four armed commandos of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to move with her, they said.

    On Friday, the Mumbai police issued a notice to her and her MLA husband Ravi Rana, asking them not to disrupt the law and order situation as they plan to recite ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ outside Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s residence here on April 23.

    The lawmaker couple is known to have an unofficial understanding with the BJP.

    Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman S Somanath has also been accorded a ‘Y+’ category security cover.

    The rocket scientist will have about four to six armed commandos round-the-clock with him whenever he travels to any part of the country, officials said.

    The CISF, that has traditionally provided proximate security to previous ISRO chiefs and also guards the main complex of the institution in Bengaluru, has been tasked with the job.

    Somanath, who played a key role in developing the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk III, or GSLV Mk III, was appointed the ISRO chief in January this year by the central government.

    Before the current assignment, he was the director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.

  • Centre upgrades VIP security cover of West Bengal BJP MP Arjun Singh 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI/KOLKATA: The Union government has upgraded to ‘Z’ category the armed security cover of BJP MP from West Bengal Arjun Singh in the wake of recent incidents of hurling bombs at his house in North 24 Parganas district of the state, officials said on Wednesday.

    The 59-year-old politician represents Barrackpore seat in the Lok Sabha.

    The central security cover of Singh has been upgraded from the existing ‘Y+’ to ‘Z’ in the wake of recent incidents of violence reported against him and his family members, officials said.

    The task is being rendered by armed commandos of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

    Less than a week after miscreants hurled bombs at Singh’s residence, similar explosions were reported outside his house Tuesday morning as the BJP leader claimed that members of the ruling TMC were trying to kill him.

    Under the ‘Z’ category cover, the parliamentarian will now have about six to seven commandos, from the earlier two security personnel, every time he travels in the state and an additional contingent will provide security to his house.

  • Centre accords VIP security cover to Suvendu Adhikari’s father, brother

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s father and brother, both members of Parliament, have been accorded ‘Y+’ central security cover by the Union home ministry, official sources said on Saturday.

    Suvendu Adhikari’s father Sisir Kumar Adhikari and brother Dibyendu Adhikari have been provided the cover by the ministry on the basis of a threat perception report prepared by central security agencies, they said.

    While Sisir Kumar Adhikari is a member of Parliament (MP) from the Kanthi Lok Sabha seat, Dibyendu Adhikari is a Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP from Tamluk in the state.

    The report, the sources said, recommended cover to the two leaders in view of physical security threats they face.

    They are being provided ‘Y+’ central security cover in the state of West Bengal and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been entrusted with the task, the sources said.

    About four to five armed commandos each will be provided to them every time they move in the state, they said.

    The CRPF also provides a ‘Z’ category cover to Suvendu Adhikari, who is the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly.

    Suvendu Adhikari had severed ties with the TMC and joined the BJP.

    He contested the 2021 assembly elections against Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee from the Nandigram seat and won the contest.

  • New Bengal BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty gets central VIP security cover

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Centre has accorded ‘Y+’ VIP security cover to veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty who recently joined the BJP, official sources said on Wednesday.

    They said the security cover will be provided by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) that has a dedicated wing for this task, called the special security group (SSG).

    The 70-year-old actor had joined the BJP on Sunday at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mega rally at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata.

    “Chakraborty has been given a ‘Y+’ cover and armed CISF commandos will accompany him during poll campaign in West Bengal,” a senior officer said.

    Election to the 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held in eight phases between March 27 and April 29.

    A threat perception report prepared by central security agencies recently recommended to the home ministry for a security cover to the national award-winning actor.

    BJP MP from Jharkhand Nishikant Dubey will also be accorded with a similar cover that involves about 4-5 armed commandos protecting the person.

    With these new inductions, the CISF now protects a total of 104 VIPs, including National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.