1. MHA grants ‘X-category’ security to Rekha Patra amid her candidacy in Basirhat Lok Sabha.
2. Patra gained prominence through protests against suspended Trinamool leader Sheikh Shahjahan.
3. The move comes amidst heightened security concerns in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali.
Kolkata, April 30: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has granted ‘X-category’ security protection to Rekha Patra, a prominent figure in the protests against suspended Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali.
Patra is now contesting as the BJP candidate for the Basirhat Lok Sabha seat.
The decision comes ahead of the voting scheduled for June 1, the final phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
Patra is set to face Trinamool Congress’s Haji Nurul Islam, who was nominated after the withdrawal of current MP and Bengali actor Nusrat Jahan’s candidacy.
Commandos from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will provide security for Patra, given the sensitive nature of her candidacy and the potential risks involved.
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The MHA’s decision to provide ‘X-category’ security follows an Intelligence Bureau (IB) report indicating potential threats to Patra’s safety. Additionally, five other BJP leaders have also been granted security cover by the MHA.
Pranat Tudu, the party’s candidate from Jhargram, along with Nirmal Saha from Bahrampur, Ashok Kandari from Jaynagar, and Ashok Purkait from Mathurapur, have received ‘X-category’ security protection.
Meanwhile, Karthik Paul, the BJP candidate from Raiganj, has been provided with ‘Y-category’ security cover.
The move reflects the escalating security concerns surrounding BJP candidates in West Bengal, especially since the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections.
In recent weeks, the MHA has extended security protection to over two dozen BJP leaders in the state.
Currently, more than 100 BJP leaders across West Bengal benefit from security provided by CISF commandos under the central government’s supervision.
