Shahnawaz, Rudy, BSP’s Mishra get ‘Z’ category security

BJP leaders Syed Shahnawaz Hussain and Rajiv Pratap Rudy are new entrants to VIP security club after the union home ministry recently accorded a ‘Z’ category security to these politicians in view of a ‘potential’ Naxal threat to them during the on-going poll season.

The Home Ministry has also brought BSP general secretary and close aide of former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati, Satish Chandra Mishra, under the ‘Z+’ category of security with a total of 25 commandos recently being dispatched from Delhi to secure the VIP during his movements in the state.

Both Shahnawaz, who is contesting from Bhagalpur, and Rudy, will be provided armed commandos of the CRPF during their movements in Bihar and other Naxal affected states of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra and Jharkhand.

‘The security of the two BJP leaders has been brought under a special cover in view of Naxal threat to them.

Intelligence inputs suggest they could be harmed by the left wing ultras during poll times,’ Home Ministry officials said.

A number of other politicians have also been brought under the security cover of the central paramilitary forces which includes Congress’ Lok Sabha candidate from Allahabad seat Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’ and he has been accorded a ‘Y’ category security which entails two armed commandos.

The Congress Legislature Party chief in UP, Pradeep Mathur, too has been brought under the same cover by the Union Home Ministry after which commandos have been posted for his mobile security. .

Bihar Congress chief Ashok Chaudhary has also been given a ‘Z’ category mobile security with 20 commandos while he moves in the state and General Secretary of Punjab PCC Harminder Singh Jassi has been accorded ‘Z’ security by the specially trained men.

Congress’ sitting MP from Faridabad, Avtar Singh Bhadana, contesting the LS polls again this time, has been brought under the second level of security-- ‘Z’ --after a security assessment and threat analysis by central security agencies found ‘potential violation to his safety’ by an unidentified group.

Former home minister Buta Singh, who recently joined the Samajwadi Party and is contesting on the party ticket from Rajasthan’s Jalore Lok Sabha seat, has been upgraded and put in the ‘Z+’ security category with close to 35 commandos to guard him.

Sources said Singh’s security was upgraded from ‘Z’ to ‘Z+’ as there were ‘credible threats’ to his movements.

The Home Ministry has also recently tasked the country’s largest paramilitary force Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to throw a ‘Z’ category security ring for Union Minister and Rajasthan PCC chief Sachin Pilot and ‘Z’ class security for his senior cabinet colleague V Narayanasamy based on ‘recent incidents of potential violence’ against the Minister in Puducherry.

Narayansamy’s son, daughter and daughter-in-law have also been given a ‘Y’ category security with two PSOs each with them during their movements in south India.

The government also has upgraded the security of Jamiat Ulema-I-Hind leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Mahmood Madani to a ‘Z+’ level with close to 40 commandos detailed to secure him.