JOIN USUnion Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s security cover has been upgraded to Z-plus category after assessing threat perception on him.
Paramilitary commandos drawn from Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will now guard one of the top most ministers in the Narendra Modi cabinet.
At present, he was alloted “Y” category security besides an escort provided by the Delhi Police.
A contingent of about 60 commandos have been earmarked for the job, a senior Home Ministry official said, adding that the decision was taken recently after a review of threat perception of VVIPs. At a time, 36 personnel will be on duty.
As per the security protocol, a Z-plus protectee will have a pilot and an escort car accompanying him besides two personal security officers armed with automatic weapons seated next to him in his vehicle.
The commandos will also secure his residence at Krishna Menon Marg and install a door frame metal detector for visitors.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari are also Z-plus category protectees. BJP president Amit Shah and Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh also have Z-plus category security.
“The Central government provides security cover on the basis of assessment of threat. The security provided is subject to periodic review, based on which security is continued, withdrawn, downgraded or upgraded. The number of protectees in the Central List varies from time to time. As on date, there are 30 threat-based Z-plus category protectees in the Central List,” the Home Ministry told Parliament recently.
State governments have their own mechanism for assessing threat, providing security and reviewing security.
There are four categories of security, namely X, Y, Z and Z-plus. While a X-category protectee gets two commandos at a time, Y-category protectee will get 11.