Centre withdraws Z-Category CRPF security from Delhi CM, reverts to Delhi Police

Following a recent knife attack, the Centre has revoked the enhanced CRPF security provided to Delhi CM Rekha Gupta. Protection duties now return to Delhi Police. The move, amid an ongoing investigation into the assault, has sparked political debate.

New Delhi: There has been a major and unexpected twist in the security arrangements of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

The central government has withdrawn the Z-category CRPF security provided to her after a recent attack. Now the responsibility of her security has been handed over to the Delhi Police again.

Why was she given Z-category CRPF security?

The whole matter starts with the incident of August 20. On that day, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was conducting a 'Jan Sunwai' program at her camp office in the Civil Lines area when a man attacked her.

The Chief Minister's office termed the incident as a 'well-planned conspiracy' to kill her. The accused, identified as Rajesh Bhai Sakaria, a resident of Rajkot, Gujarat, confessed in the police investigation that he had come to attack the Chief Minister with a knife.

In view of this serious security lapse and attack, the Union Home Ministry took quick action the very next day and increased her security.

She was given Z-category security cover, which was to be provided by the VIP security wing of the country's paramilitary force, CRPF. This is a high-level security protocol, which includes a team of bodyguards and bulletproof vehicles.

Central government rolls back the decision

However, now the central government has reversed this decision. According to a report published by news agency PTI quoting sources, formal orders to provide CRPF security were to be issued, but the plan was changed and orders to withdraw the security were eventually issued.

This means that now the entire burden of security of the Chief Minister is again on the Delhi Police. The exact reasons behind this change have not been made public, leading to discussions in political and administrative circles.

Investigation continues

Meanwhile, the investigation into the attack is ongoing. The Delhi Police has so far arrested two people, including the main accused, Rajesh Sakaria, but the real and ultimate motive of the attack is yet to be fully revealed.

This incident underlines one thing: the security of an elected Chief Minister in a sensitive area like Delhi is a serious and persistent challenge.