The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has withdrawn the Z-category security cover of Mukul Roy, who returned to Trinamool Congress from the BJP, following a request from the newly-elected MLA, officials said on Thursday.
Officials said the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been asked to recall its personnel deployed with Roy.
A contingent of around 24 armed CRPF commandos used to move with him every time he travelled in West Bengal while his son Subhrangshu, a former MLA, provided security by a small contingent of the CISF.
Both Roy and his son have now been provided security by the state police after the veteran politician re-joined Trinamool Congress.
Roy has been upset with the BJP, which he joined in 2017 after he was suspended by Trinamool Congress on charges of anti-party activities, for appointing Suvendhu Adhikary as the Leader of Opposition. He was National Vice President of the BJP and as reports emerged of his uneasiness in the party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had telephoned him.
Interestingly, Trinamool Congress top leader Abhishek Banerjee had visited Roy's family recently when the latter's wife had tested positive for Covid-19.
As soon as he joined Trinamool, he wrote to the MHA seeking withdrawal of his security cover.
(Published 17 June 2021, 07:31 IST)
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