Now, armed bodyguards to form protective ring around Delhi CM at every public event
The members of the Close Protection Team are highly trained and skilled officers, who remain around the protectee at all times to shield them from harm, harassment, or assault, said the officer.
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Rekha Gupta’s Z-plus security cover has been enhanced. FileA Close Protection Team comprising four to six armed bodyguards forming a protective ring around Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta when she attends any kind of public event – this is part Delhi Police’s Z-plus security plan to protect the CM after a man attacked her during a Jan Sunwai programme at her camp office on August 20.
While Gupta’s had been assigned Z-plus security — provided to individuals with a high threat perception — even before the August 20 attack, her cover now been enhanced with the deployment of the Close Protection Team, officers said.
The members of the team, who are part of the 50-odd personnel assigned to provide Gupta Z-plus security cover, will form the first layer of protection around her during public meetings and events to stop anyone trying to approach her physically, an officer said. Overall, around two dozen security personnel would be on duty round-the-clock in shifts, the officer added.
The members of the Close Protection Team are highly trained and skilled officers, who remain around the protectee at all times to shield them from harm, harassment, or assault, said the officer.
“Since Gupta frequently meets people, this kind of security cover was necessary… Now, during Jan Sunwai and other public meetings or events, these personnel will remain in close proximity to her at all times,” another officer said.
After the attack, the Union Home Ministry had considered assigning Gupta’s security to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which provides Z and Z-plus security to several protectees across the country. The CRPF was, in fact, briefly included in the Delhi Police security ring around Gupta for a day. However, it was decided that the Delhi Police would continue to handle her security, but with an enhanced arrangement, sources said.
As per the ‘Yellow Book’ of the Ministry of Home Affairs – which outlines the guidelines for security arrangements for VIPs and VVIPs – a ‘Z’ category protectee is assigned 22 to 25 personnel — including personal security officers, escorts, watchers, and eight static armed guards.
For a ‘Z-plus’ category protectee, the number of personnel is doubled – around 50 personnel working in shifts – with enhanced security arrangements covering the protectee’s residence and cavalcade.The Delhi CM’s security cover is usually handled by the Delhi Police security division, which is also responsible for providing such protection to other ministers. Sources said personnel in the security division undergo training periodically in-house or at paramilitary training centres.
Satish Golcha, who was appointed the Delhi Police commissioner a day after Gupta was attacked, has directed the security division to conduct periodic training for its personnel deployed in the protection of the VIPs, said officers.
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