Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma gets Z plus security.

The Ministry of Home Affairs upgraded the security arrangements for the Chief Minister of Assam, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday, October 13.

Presently, the Chief Minister is enjoying the 'Z' category security provided by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) security cover in North- Eastern region which now has been upgraded to 'Z plus' category CRPF security cover across India.

Picture Source-Facebook

In the official statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs stated, "The security arrangement for Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma has been reviewed in this Ministry in consultation with the Central Security Agency and it has been decided to upgrade his present 'Z' category. CRPF security cover in the North-Eastern region to 'Z plus' category CRPF security cover on all India basis. CRPF is requested to provide 'Z plus' category security cover to Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, on an India basis, under intimation to this Ministry."

The Z+ (plus) category is the second-highest security among the six levels of security given in India.

The Z+ security comprises 55 security personnel including 10+ NSG commandos, police officers, and CRPF who guard the protectee 24×7.  The Z+ security commandos are equipped with sophisticated MP5 Submachine guns and modern communication gadgets. Moreover, each member is trained in martial arts and unarmed combat fighting. Apart from these, the Z+ plus security also includes bulletproof and an escort vehicle.

The Z security, on the other hand, comes next to the Z+ and comprises 22 personnel, including commandos and police personnel.

Earlier, CM Sarma's predecessors – Sarbananda Sonowal, Tarun Gogoi, and Prafulla Kumar Mahanta enjoyed NSG security based on threat perception in insurgency-hit Assam.

In India, there are in total six levels of security given, they are X, Y, Y+, Z, Z-plus, and the Special Protection Group (SPG).

Among the five, the SPG is the top level of security which is given only to the Prime Minister of the country as well as their immediate family members.

The Home Ministry provides security cover according to the threat perceived by an individual. The level of security accorded is decided by inputs received from intelligence agencies.

Currently, Amit Shah, Union Home Minister of India, the Gandhi's (Soniya, Rahul, and Priyanka) who earlier was accorded with SPG security, Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi, Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh among others is accorded with Z plus security.