New Delhi, Aug 21 (PTI) The Union government has provided 'Z' category VIP security cover to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta after an attack, as per official sources on Thursday.
Gupta's official residence and Camp Office located on Raj Niwas Marg in the Civil Lines area of New Delhi will now be secured by the VIP Security Group (VSG) of the paramilitary force. This is the same group that provides protection to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Gandhi family of the Congress party.
On Thursday, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) assumed responsibility for the Chief Minister's security following directives from the Union home ministry. She has been assigned a 'Z' category central security cover due to a threat perception report from central intelligence agencies, as per the sources.
Previously, the 51-year-old Gupta was provided top-level security by Delhi Police. During a 'Jan Sunwai' programme at her camp office on Wednesday morning, Gupta was attacked. Her office described the assault as a "well-planned conspiracy to kill her".
A security team consisting of 22-25 armed CRPF commandos will guard the Chief Minister around the clock. The CRPF plans to implement new security measures for her protection. These measures include regulating access to her residence, using security gadgets, and providing Gupta with male and female personal security officers (PSOs) for proximate protection during public appearances.
The CRPF is responsible for the security of other high-profile individuals like Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the governors of West Bengal, Sikkim, Bihar, and Karnataka.
VIP security cover under the central protection list is tiered from the highest Z-plus (ASL) to Z-plus, Z, Y, Y-plus, and X categories. The accused who attacked Gupta was immediately overpowered and arrested on the scene. He faces a charge of attempted murder and is currently in five-day custody with the Delhi Police, which is conducting an investigation into the incident.
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