New Delhi, April: In response to potential threats, the Union government has granted Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar a Z-category VIP security cover, comprising armed commandos, as confirmed by official sources on Tuesday. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has designated the Central Reserve Police Force to deploy approximately 40-45 personnel for this purpose.
The decision follows a threat perception report prepared by central security agencies, advocating enhanced security measures for Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kumar. This move coincides with the preparations for the upcoming seven-phase general elections commencing on April 19.
According to sources, the armed commandos will accompany CEC Kumar during his travels nationwide. Kumar, a retired IAS officer of the 1984 batch, assumed office as the 25th CEC on May 15, 2022, after serving as an election commissioner since September 1, 2020.