By Rajnish Singh
New Delhi, June 7 (IANS) Within a week of his taking over as Union Home Minister, the security of Amit Shah has been reviewed by Delhi Police which has deployed an "additional component" of its personnel at the residence of the BJP leader who already enjoys 'Z-plus' category of protective cover.
The additional component of Delhi Police security comprises more than three dozen personnel who will be deployed round-the-clock at his residence at Akbar Road, police sources said.
A highly placed source, requesting anonymity, told IANS that Delhi Police personnel would man the Home Minister's residence in eight-hour shifts and each shift would include over a dozen armed men.
Some of the Delhi Police personnel would be guarding Shah's residence in plain clothes.
Apart from these personnel, more than two Police Control Room (PCR) vans and almost similar number of Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) are part of the security apparatus of the Delhi Police that have been engaged in Shah's security considering as protocol for a Union Home Minister.
As Shah is likely to be allotted a bigger accommodation at Krishna Menon Marg, the official residence of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee from 2004 till his death last year, the number of Delhi Police personnel may be increased there if needed, said the source, privy to the security arrangement division in the 84,000-strong force.
The number of personnel in Shah's Z-plus security cover could increase to 100 if he shifts to the new residence, said a source.
However, the Z-plus category security would continue for Shah who has been enjoying the facility since 2014 after Intelligence Bureau submitted a report to the Home Ministry that Indian Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba and other Pakistan-based terror outfits could target him.
Shah then was the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) general secretary and party in-charge for Uttar Pradesh and was set to become the party's next president.
Prior to the Z-plus security, he was being provided security by the Gujarat Police.
As per the rules, 50 personnel of Central police forces, including commandos, guard a person categorised as 'Z-plus' round-the-clock.
Shah travels in a bullet-proof car and is provided three escort and pilot vehicles.
(Rajnish Singh can be contacted at rajnish.s@ians.in)
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