The top brass of the Kerala BJP unit has been given Y-category security by the Centre after a reported spike in political violence in the state.
BJP State president Kummanam Rajasekharan, former state president PK Krishnadas, general secretaries MT Ramesh and K Surendran will henceforth be provided security cover, according to The Hindu.
Quoting a senior Home Ministry official, The Hindu said that 12 paramilitary personnel would now give proximity cover to the said leaders, as part of the Y-category security.
“We grant security on the basis of the assessment done by the intelligence agencies. Their ground reports suggested that the four BJP persons required protection,” the official said.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was asked to take look into the security details, the official added. The need for enhanced security comes at a time when the state continues to witness widespread violence between Left supporters and members and workers of the Sangh Parivar/BJP/RSS.
In the latest such incident, the wife of BJP leader Kannan in Palakkad died after she succumbed to burn injuries on Monday. Kannan’s brother Radhakrishnan who had suffered 60% burns died on 06 January, following a cardiac arrest.
On December 28, a group of people had set fire to three bikes kept in a shed near the kitchen of Kannan’s house. The fire spread quickly, causing a gas cylinder kept in the kitchen to explode. Both the shed and the house were completely burnt down.
Three local CPI(M) workers were arrested in connection with the case, and the police said that more suspects are yet to be arrested in the case.