The Union Home Ministry agreed on Saturday to provide Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan with Z+ security cover from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the state, amid an ongoing dispute with Students Federation of India (SFI) members.
“Union Home Ministry has informed Kerala Raj Bhavan that Z+ Security cover of the CRPF is being extended to Hon’ble Governor and Kerala Raj Bhavan: PRO, Kerala Raj Bhavan,” the governor’s official X (previously known as Twitter) feed stated.
What Happened?
While the governor was traveling to a ceremony in the Kottarakkara district on Saturday, a number of activists from the governing CPI(M)’s student branch, SFI, held a black flag demonstration against him. Earlier in the day, there was a high drama when the governor, who was clearly furious, demanded that the SFI members be arrested while seated on a dharna outside a business.
The governor is seen in footage circulating on social media stepping out of the automobile on a busy MC Road in the Kollam district’s Nilamel neighbourhood, grabbing a chair from a nearby store, and sitting on the roadside calling for action against the demonstrators. Additionally, he is seen arguing angrily with the police officers in front of the crowd of people.
Additionally, he charged Pinarayi Vijayan, the chief minister of Kerala, with “promoting lawlessness in the state.” “He is the one instructing the police to provide cover to these criminals, who include the state president of the organisation (SFI), against whom numerous criminal cases are still pending in the courts,” the individual claimed.
Khan was there for two hours before leaving when the police gave him a formal complaint (17 SFI activists) that had been made against them for waving black flags and banners and yelling at the governor, “Sanghi Chancellor go back.” The law’s non-bailable clauses were the basis for filing the FIR.
Governor Khan asserted that he hadn’t organised a rally and was only awaiting a copy of the First Information Report (FIR) from the police in response to his call for action against the SFI members connected to the CPI(M). The Governor ultimately left the scene when the police produced a copy of a FIR under non-bailable provisions against 17 SFI activists.
Why Z+ security is given?
The government provides “Z+” security, which is periodically reviewed and is based on the Central Security Agency’s danger assessment. The security cover is extended, removed, or changed in light of this evaluation. For security concerns, the specifics of requests for “Z+” security cannot be made public.