Chief Election Commissioner Receives Z-Category Security Due to Threats: Report

The Ministry of Home Affairs has assigned the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to provide a contingent of about 40-45 personnel for the security of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kumar, as recommended by a threat perception report prepared by central intelligence agencies. This decision comes in light of the upcoming seven-phase general elections scheduled to begin on April 19.

The current security for the Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners is provided by a small armed team from the Delhi Police. The provision of a central security cover for the CEC is rare, with former CEC, late TN Seshan being one of the few to have had a central security cover at one point.

The Z category cover provided to the CEC ensures protection during his movement across the country, at his office in central Delhi’s ‘Nirvachan Sadan’, and at his residence. This security cover categorization follows an order from highest to lowest: Z+, Z, Y+, Y, and X.

In response to the announcement, an Election Commission spokesperson declined to comment on the matter. Mr. Kumar, a retired IAS officer of the 1984 batch, assumed office as the 25th CEC on May 15, 2022, after being appointed as an election commissioner in the poll body on September 1, 2020.