30 years later, Z plus security to Buta Singh withdrawn

Almost 30 years after they were provided Z plus security, former home minister Buta Singh, high-profile former Indian Youth Congress president MS Bitta were recently stripped of the coveted Black Commando cover.

The security cover for former Assam chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta among others was withdrawn following a recent review of the home ministry of the threat perception to those provided various categories of protection. Also divested of the NSG cover is journalist and proprietor of a prominent Hindi daily Ashwini Kumar.

Immediately after he took over as home minister, P Chidambaram had advocated using the NSG commandos for counter terrorism operations that also included anti-hijacking and other related law and order problems.

Buta Singh, Bitta and Ashwini were enjoying the Z plus security cover since terrorism hit Punjab in the 1980s.

After this latest review the number of VVIPs protected by the NSG has come down to 16.