After reviewing the security, the Union Home Ministry has withdrawn the National Security Guard (NSG) cover and allotted CRPF cover to former Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. The Union Home Ministry, in orders, has asked the CRPF to take over the security duties of Mahanta from the NSG.

“The matter regarding security arrangements in respect of Mahanta has been reviewed in the Ministry of Home Affairs in consultation with Central Security Agency and with the approval of Competent Authority, it has been decided that NSG mobile security cover provided to Mahanta be replaced with CRPF cover. Presently, Mahanta is a Z+ category protectee of Assam government,” the order stated, a copy of which is available with Time8.

The government has scaled down the categorisation of the new cover accorded to Mahanta by keeping it as ‘Z+ mobile’, which means the security personnel will not be protecting the residential premises of the veteran Asom Gana Parishad leader but securing them only when they travel.

Z+ NSG cover was accorded to Mahanta in 1997 after militant outfit United Liberation Front of Assam made an abortive bid on his life. However, the BJP-led government had withdrawn the Z+ cover in 2017 following which he moved the Gauhati High Court, which restored his NSG cover.

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