NEW DELHI: The security of
Apna Dal
(S) Party leader and
MoS Commerce and Industries
Anupriya Patel has been upgraded to 'Z' category in Uttar Pradesh by the Central government.
An ally of the
Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP), Apna Dal's (Sonelal) President Patel is currently receiving 'Y+' category security cover from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) across India.
This enhanced security cover will now be extended to other parts of the country as well. However, 'Z' category security will be provided only in Uttar Pradesh during her stay and movement within the state.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) took this decision based on a fresh threat analysis report from the Intelligence Bureau ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Last year in June, the MHA had ordered the CISF to provide 'Y+' category security to Patel on a national level. Patel, who became the MoS Commerce and Industries in July 2021, has been elected to the Lok Sabha from Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh in both 2014 and 2019.
As per the new security arrangement, Patel, who is 43 years old, will now have a team of over a dozen armed commandos, including armed static guards at her residence and two Personal Security Officers (PSOs) at a time in three shifts. This additional security detail will be provided by the CISF, which is a Central Armed Police Force under the Ministry of Home Affairs. In total, the CISF is currently providing security cover to nearly 155 individuals, including Patel. Out of these, around 20 receive 'Y+' category security cover.
Anupriya Patel, born in 1981, previously served as the Minister of State in the Union Health Ministry from 2016 to 2019.
(Inputs from Agencies)
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