CEC Gyanesh Kumar's Z+ security upgraded amid SIR protests, Chhattisgarh visit postponed

The security cover of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has been further strengthened amid protests over alleged irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with additional personnel deployed around his residence, the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters and for his personal protection, Hindustan Times reported citing officials aware of the developments. The security upgrade appears to have followed protests near Kumar's residences in Delhi and Agra. A senior police officer told the publication the authorities reassessed the threat after protesters traced his Delhi residence and another demonstration was held outside his family home in Agra. "The protesters managed to trace his house. There was another protest outside his family's house in Agra. We had to assess all the threats and increase the security cover. We had also placed a few pickets near his house," the officer has been quoted as saying. Security stepped up at Delhi residence The Indian Youth Congress had confirmed that it staged a protest near Kumar's residence on September 27, seeking his resignation. The demonstrators were stopped by police and security personnel. Following the protests, security arrangements around the CEC's residence in New Moti Bagh were tightened. A security staff member in the colony, speaking on condition of anonymity, told HT that the deployment had been increased after protesters attempted to enter the colony and came close to Kumar's residence. The staff member said paramilitary security had subsequently been strengthened in the area. Delhi Police officials familiar with the developments told the publication that Kumar had already been provided Z+ security for some time. Z+ is the highest category of civilian security cover provided by the government. A second senior police officer has been quoted to say the security detail comprises more than 55 personnel drawn from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Delhi Police. The arrangement also includes round-the-clock personal security officers (PSOs). The security apparatus is structured in several layers, with watchers, guards, a close-protection team and other personnel deployed as part of the cover. Police officials said chief election commissioners are provided Z-tier security. A colony staff member said the level of security around Kumar's residence had increased significantly and was more than what residents were accustomed to seeing. The staff member said police vans were stationed inside the colony round the clock, while commandos remained deployed outside Kumar's residence. Another colony staff member said visitors and new entrants were being asked to produce identification and explain the purpose of their visit. A bus carrying paramilitary personnel was also stationed outside the colony, the staff member said. ECI headquarters also gets more personnel Security at Nirvachan Sadan, the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters on Ashoka Road in central Delhi, has also been reinforced, according to officials quoted by the publication. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) was already responsible for security inside the complex, including its entry and exit points and the perimeter. An officer familiar with the deployment was quoted as saying that the number of CISF personnel stationed inside the complex had increased substantially. The officer also said that personnel from the Rapid Action Force (RAF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Delhi Police had been deployed outside the complex over the past few days. A senior police officer was quoted as saying that the additional security at the ECI headquarters was not specifically related to Kumar, but had been increased in view of the protests taking place there on a daily basis. Chhattisgarh visit postponed The security developments come as Kumar faces protests and criticism over the SIR exercise. His scheduled two-day visit to Chhattisgarh on October 7 and 8 was postponed due to "unavoidable reasons", according to a government order issued on Tuesday (October 6). Kumar and other senior ECI officials were scheduled to travel from Delhi for the visit. The Chhattisgarh Chief Electoral Officer's office said the revised dates would be communicated separately once received from the Commission. Kumar had been declared a State Guest for the October 7 and 8 visit, with protocol arrangements ordered accordingly. His proposed itinerary included visits to the Danteshwari temple in Dantewada, Bhoramdeo in Kabirdham and Chitrakoot waterfall in Bastar.