BY OUR STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, Oct 26: Assam Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal will soon be given round the clock Z-plus security with NSG guards. After becoming Chief Minister, Sonowal had refused to accept Z-plus security cover, saying that high security for him would cause unnecessary inconvenience to the public. He even favored limiting number of vehicles in his convoy and travelling normally on roads by following traffic rules.
Recently, the State Home department wrote a letter to the Union Home Ministry on this issue, urging the latter to provide Sonowal with Z-plus security. Home department sources here informed that this proposal by the State government is now under active consideration of the Home Ministry.
If Sonowal is provided with Z-plus category, he will be the third in the State to enjoy that cover, along with former chief ministers Tarun Gogoi and Prafulla Kumar Mahanta.
On this issue, the Union Home Ministry has sought views of Central agencies based in Assam, and if all goes as per plan of the State government, Sonowal will be given Z-plus security within a few days. Presently, the Chief Minister is being provided with the most high profile security cover of the State government, added sources.
According to sources in the State Home department, in the last budget session of the State Assembly, several MLAs unimously appealed the State government to give Z-plus security to Sonowal, given the threat perception against him.
The State government also admitted in the Assembly that the security cover Chief Minister Sonowal is currently enjoying is not adequate and he should be brought under high security cover. The MLAs stated that there shouldn’t be any compromise on the CM’s security. The Assam Police is also in favour of Z-plus security for the Chief Minister.
Based on all such opinions, the State Home department has written a letter to the Home Ministry.
The issue of giving Z-plus security to Sonowal could be one of the reasons after the Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh escaped unhurt on Monday last when suspected NSCN(IM) militants opened gunfire as he was getting out of his helicopter at the Ukhrul helipad in Manipur, an insurgency affected State.
The State Home department sources further stated that there shouldn’t be any compromise on the security of a person like Sonowal who is in the top job. “The State government has already taken up this issue and reviews of the Security Review Committee have been sent to the Home Ministry for its approval,” said Home Commissioner LS Changson.
However, sources in New Delhi stated that the Central government has approved Z-plus security cover to Sonowal, but it is yet to be confirmed officially, said Assam Home Commissioner LS Chagsan.