Centre upgrades BJP MP Arjun Singh's security to 'Z' category

Days after three crude bombs were hurled outside BJP MP Arjun Singh's house in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, the Centre has upgraded his armed security cover to 'Z' category.

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday issued an order giving the security responsibility of the leader to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). "The paramilitary wing under the Central government took the charge on Tuesday," a government source told ANI.

The leader will be provided with the security cover only in West Bengal, said the source, adding "Arjun Singh was earlier being provided "Y +" category security by the CISF.

The CISF has been providing 'Y+' security cover to Arjun Singh since March 2019.

Singh, an MP from Barrackpore parliamentary constituency, has now been put under security cover of more than nine armed CISF troops at his house round the clock. A squad of five armed commandos will provide security to the leader while travelling inside West Bengal.

The BJP leader was given a security charge soon after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday took over the investigation linked to the crude bomb attack outside his house.

Three crude bombs were hurled outside the house of Arjun Singh 'Majdoor Bhavan' at Jagaddal in Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, despite security presence, on September 8 morning between 6 am and 6.30 am. The bombs hit one of the entrance gates of the house, however, no injuries were reported in the incident.

The BJP leader was not present at his home and was in Delhi at the time of the incident, but his family members were inside the house.

Soon after the attack, the BJP has reacted strongly and Darjeeling MP Raju Bista asked for an NIA investigation in the matter.

The West Bengal BJP has claimed that the ruling Trinamool Congress was behind the attack on the BJP MP's residence.

However, the TMC had refuted the charges and said that the attack was a result of the internal feud in the Bengal BJP.

Singh, who was a Trinamool Congress MLA, joined the BJP in 2019 ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and won from the Barrackpore parliamentary constituency.

(ANI)