NAGPUR: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s protection protocol has been upgraded from Z-plus to an Advance Security Liaison (ASL) drill in line with that for PM Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah, MHA sources said.
The security step-up was finalised a fortnight ago based on a review of Bhagwat’s security, which was purportedly found to be “slack” during his visits to states governed by non-BJP parties.
Bhagwat’s Z-plus security involved officers and guards on deputation from CISF.
Sources in Delhi said the RSS chief was known to be a target of several organisations, including radical Islamist outfits.
Inputs from various agencies about his heightened threat perception led MHA to bracket Bhagwat as an “ASL protectee”. All states and UTs have since been officially intimated about the upgrade.
ASL mandates the participation of local agencies like the district administration, police, health and other departments related to the security and safety of the protectee assigned this level of security. This includes anti-sabotage checks with multi-layered security rings, sources said.
Chopper travel would be allowed only in specially designed helicopters and governed by the stipulated protocol.
The security step-up was finalised a fortnight ago based on a review of Bhagwat’s security, which was purportedly found to be “slack” during his visits to states governed by non-BJP parties.
Bhagwat’s Z-plus security involved officers and guards on deputation from CISF.
Sources in Delhi said the RSS chief was known to be a target of several organisations, including radical Islamist outfits.
Inputs from various agencies about his heightened threat perception led MHA to bracket Bhagwat as an “ASL protectee”. All states and UTs have since been officially intimated about the upgrade.
ASL mandates the participation of local agencies like the district administration, police, health and other departments related to the security and safety of the protectee assigned this level of security. This includes anti-sabotage checks with multi-layered security rings, sources said.
Chopper travel would be allowed only in specially designed helicopters and governed by the stipulated protocol.
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