Former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has been accorded the top category 'Z-plus' VIP security cover by the Centre, months ahead of Assembly polls in the state.
Officials said the orders for providing an armed cover of central paramilitary commandoes for Manjhi was issued by the Union Home Ministry and the task has been entrusted to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
"A security and threat analysis was conducted by Central agencies after which it has been decided to provide the maximum level of security to Manjhi. The designated teams will soon take charge of the VIPs security," sources said.
Manjhi, who was removed as the Bihar Chief Minister early this year, had later floated his own political party called the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and he later forged an alliance with the NDA in principle but the seat sharing between the two is expected to be decided at a later stage.
Sources said Manjhi will now be secured by a component of about 15 CRPF commandoes at any given point of time when he moves in and around Bihar while a similar team will also secure his residence in state capital Patna.
"The security team will take care of his extensive tours that are expected to happen in view of the forthcoming polls in the state," they said, adding a bullet-proof vehicle will also be a part of his convoy as many areas in the state are hit by Left Wing Extremism (LWE).
The 243-seat Bihar Assembly is set to go for a multi-phased election, probably between late October and early November.
The CRPF, as part of its VIP protection mandate, also secures prominent figures like BJP President Amit Shah and Union Cabinet Ministers like Nitin Gadkari and Rajiv Pratap Rudy.
