The central government has made the decision to bolster the security of BJP leaders Abhay Singh and Awdhesh Pratap Singh by providing them with ‘Y+’ category security cover, consisting of armed Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, according to official sources on Saturday.
This move follows the recent upgrade in security for Apna Dal (S) Party leader and Minister of State for Commerce and Industries, Anupriya Patel, to ‘Z’ category in Uttar Pradesh, which was announced on March 9. Patel, who also serves as the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ally Apna Dal (Sonelal), is presently under the protection of ‘Y+’ category security provided by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) across India.
Under the new arrangement, Patel’s enhanced security cover will now extend to other parts of the country, with ‘Z’ category security reserved exclusively for her during her presence and movements within Uttar Pradesh. The decision to upgrade Patel’s security in Uttar Pradesh was prompted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)’s review of the latest threat assessment report from the Intelligence Bureau ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Last year in June, the MHA had directed the CISF to extend ‘Y+’ category security to Patel on a nationwide basis. Currently, the CISF is responsible for providing security to approximately 155 individuals, including Patel, with nearly 20 of them receiving ‘Y+’ category security cover.
These security enhancements underscore the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and protection of political leaders, especially during periods of heightened security concerns surrounding major electoral events like the Lok Sabha elections.
