Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Declines Centre's Z Plus Security In State, Delhi

Bhagwant Mann has refused to accept the Z Plus security offered to him by the Centre saying that the special team of Punjab Police and CM security is enough.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann refuses Centre's Z Plus Security Cover.

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Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has refused to accept the Z Plus security offered to him by the Central government. In a letter to Centre, Mann refused to accept the security cover for Punjab and Delhi saying that the special team of Punjab Police and CM security is enough. Explaining the reason for this decision, Mann said that there can be a problem in having two security covers in Punjab and Delhi.

It is pertinent to mention that Punjab CM was offered the Z Plus security on May 25 in view of possible threats to him emanating from the country and abroad, news agency PTI reported citing sources. The 49-year-old was to be given the VIP protection squad of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), they said.

The top-category 'Z-plus' cover will be provided to Mann all across India and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recently accorded the sanction for this, PTI reported. A CRPF team of 55 armed personnel was earmarked for it.

According to PTI, the latest security cover, apart from the Punjab Police protection, was given to secure the chief minister's house and immediate family members too. Such a security cover for Mann was recommended by the central intelligence and security agencies during the preparation of a 'threat perception analysis' report of the chief minister in the wake of Khalistani activities in the border state.

Notably, former Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal, Captain Amarinder Singh, former deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal, former minister Vikram Singh Majithia were also given Z plus security.

Punjab Police on Wednesday launched a state-wide operation 'Operation Clean' aimed at keeping a tab on the activities of persons involved in the smuggling of commercial quantities of drugs. The operation was conducted on the directions of the Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav.