6 hrs ago
Security Tightened Around CEC Gyanesh Kumar Amid Protests
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar already has Z+ security.
Officials said the CISF added reserve personnel on October 7 as a precaution.
They said this did not change his security category.
A separate report said Delhi Police tightened security around his home and the Election Commission office.
These steps came while opposition parties were protesting over alleged problems with voter-list changes.
The opposition says the changes could keep some people from voting and has demanded Kumar’s resignation.
The Cockroach Janta Party also called for criminal proceedings against him.
The reports do not give a response from the Election Commission to these allegations.
CISF reserve personnel reinforced Gyanesh Kumar’s existing Z+ security on October 7, officials said.
Delhi Police also tightened security around Kumar’s residence and the Election Commission office, according to a report dated October 8.
Officials said the additional CISF deployment was precautionary and did not change Kumar’s Z+ security category.
Opposition parties are protesting over alleged voter deletions and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The INDIA bloc is demanding Kumar’s resignation; the Cockroach Janta Party also called for his resignation and criminal proceedings.
- Who
- Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar; CISF and Delhi Police provided or tightened security.
- What
- Reserve personnel reinforced Kumar’s existing Z+ security, while Delhi Police tightened security around his residence and the Election Commission office.
- Where
- Kumar’s residence and the Election Commission office in Delhi.
- When
- The CISF reinforcement was reported as carried out on October 7; the Delhi Police security tightening was reported on October 8.
- Why
- Officials described the CISF reinforcement as precautionary amid protests over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Protesting Opposition Parties
Security Officials
Electoral-roll revision
Protesting Opposition Parties
Opposition parties allege that voter deletions during the Special Intensive Revision were intended to disenfranchise people opposed to the BJP, and accuse the Election Commission of electoral manipulation or “vote chori.”
Security Officials
The reports do not include an Election Commission response to those allegations; officials discussed the security deployment, not the electoral-roll claims.
Security measures
Protesting Opposition Parties
Opposition parties are continuing protests and demanding Kumar’s resignation.
Security Officials
Officials described the additional CISF reserve personnel as a precaution based on the prevailing security situation and threat assessment, and said Kumar’s Z+ category remained unchanged.
Key facts
- Official
- Gyanesh Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner
- CISF deployment
- Additional reserve personnel were deployed on October 7, officials said.
- Delhi Police
- Security was tightened around Kumar’s official residence and the Election Commission office, according to the October 8 report.
- Security category
- Z+; officials said the reserve deployment did not upgrade the category.
- Protest issue
- Alleged voter deletions and irregularities during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- INDIA bloc demand
- The alliance is demanding Kumar’s resignation and removal.
- Cockroach Janta Party demand
- The party called for Kumar’s resignation and the initiation of criminal proceedings against him.
Quotes
An unnamed official
Official commenting on the additional security deployment for the Chief Election Commissioner.
“Instead, it involves the mobilisation of additional personnel kept in reserve, depending on the prevailing security situation and threat assessment.”
theprint.in
Sources
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