The West Bengal government has decided to upgrade the security cover of former Indian cricket team captain and former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly to Z category, a senior official said. , Photo Credit: Debashish Bhaduri
The West Bengal government has decided to upgrade the security cover of former Indian cricket team captain and former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly to Z category, a senior official said.
The decision was taken on May 16 after the expiry of the tenure of Y-category security provided to Ganguly.
“After the end of VVIP security, a review was done as per protocol and it was decided to upgrade Ganguly’s security to Z category,” he said.
What is Z category security?
Z category is one of the securities given by police and local government to high security individuals. The person in question is assigned one of six levels of protection, depending on the threat perception.
The Z category has a security cover of 22 jawans, which includes 4-6 NSG commandos and police personnel.
SPG, Z+, Y+, Y, X are other levels of security.
The official said that under the new security arrangements, the former cricketer will be guarded by eight to 10 policemen.
Under Y-category security cover, Ganguly used to have three policemen from the Special Branch under his cover and an equal number of law enforcers guarding his dilapidated residence.
On Tuesday, representatives of the state secretariat reached Ganguly’s Behala office, where they held a meeting with officials from Kolkata Police Headquarters Lalbazar and the local police station.
“Ganguly is currently traveling with his team Delhi Daredevils and will return to Kolkata on May 21. From that day onwards, he will start getting Z-category security,” the official said.
In West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Governor CV Anand Bose and Trinamool Congress MP and National Secretary Abhishek Banerjee get Z-plus security, while ministers like Firhad Hakim and Moloy Ghatak have been provided with Z-category security.
BJP’s West Bengal President Sukanta Majumdar is also provided with Z plus security cover along with CISF security.