New Delhi/Kolkata: The Centre has provided an armed security cover to West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal in the wake of a potential threat to him due to the ongoing SIR exercise in the state, officials said on Sunday.
A Y-plus category cover of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has been accorded to Agarwal in Kolkata following an order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in Delhi on December 26, they said.
According to officials, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an order on December 26 granting Agarwal a Y-plus category security cover by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). The security arrangement has been put in place in Kolkata.
A team comprising 11–12 armed personnel from the CISF’s VIP security wing has been deployed to provide both personal and residential security to the officer. The team has already taken charge, officials added.
The enhanced security was necessitated after central agencies flagged possible threats to Agarwal in view of the sensitive nature of the SIR exercise currently underway in West Bengal.
Meanwhile, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has alleged that the Election Commission is deleting the names of lakhs of legitimate voters from the electoral rolls under the SIR exercise to favour the BJP ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. On Saturday, a TMC delegation submitted a memorandum to Agarwal raising objections to the revision process.
