Z+ security cover to Kerala Guv: MHA hands over order to Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: Two days after extending Z+ security cover to Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, the Ministry of Home Affairs handed over the order regarding the same to Kerala Government. 

According to the order, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will henceforth be responsible for the Governor's security. Meanwhile, a review meeting will be held at the Raj Bhavan on Tuesday regarding the security arrangements. Kerala Police officials, Raj Bhavan representatives and CRPF personnel will attend the meeting.

The Centre on Saturday extended Z+ security cover to Khan, who lashed out at Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for "promoting lawlessness" after facing SFI's black flag protest in Kollam. 

On his way to Kottarakkara for an event, Khan got out of his car at Nilamel, took on the agitating SFI workers and sat on the roadside, demanding police action against them. 

By evening, 20 CRPF personnel arrived and took charge of the governor’s security from state police for the rest of the day. However, without official confirmation from the Centre, there was much misunderstanding in this regard.

At the same time, the Ministry of Home Affairs has reckoned that while the central force will oversee the government's security cover, it cannot take over the security of the Raj Bhavan, which falls under the state government. 

Top police sources point out that the CRPF can carry out this duty only with the cooperation of the state police. The central force will give priority to the personal security of the governor. 

Though CRPF will be in charge of Khan's itinerary, the state police will have to ensure the safety of roads and places visited by the governor. Protestors, if any, will need to be removed by the state police, and the police will need to investigate the case.