Ahead of Bihar elections, security is heightened for key political figures. Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary receives Z-Plus protection, while RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav’s security is upgraded to Z category.
With Bihar election season just months away, the state is bracing for a high-voltage political showdown and the government is not taking any chances when it comes to protecting its key players. It is reportedly said that Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary will now move around with the formidable Z-Plus security cover, a privilege reserved for the country’s most at-risk leaders.
The upgrade from his earlier Z category means a ring of elite guards, advance reconnaissance teams, and detailed threat assessments for every rally, roadshow, and public meeting he attends.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, a familiar face in Bihar’s political tug-of-war, has been bumped up from Y-Plus to Z category protection. Purnia’s fiery MP Pappu Yadav, never too far from controversy or the headlines, now gets Y-Plus cover.
The tightened security net also extends to JD(U) leader Neeraj Kumar, BJP MP Gyanendra Singh Gyanu, and BJP MP Pradeep Kumar Singh — a sign that the threat perception is not limited to just the top brass.
The move comes against a troubling backdrop. Just last month, Bihar saw as many as four brazen shooting incidents within 24 hours, claiming the lives of a lawyer, a businessman, a grocery shop owner, and a veterinary doctor. It’s the kind of violence that election strategists say can rattle the political campaign trail.
The numbers don’t paint a rosier picture. According to the NCRB data, Bihar logged more than 71,000 murder cases between 2001 and 2022, with 2,930 murders in 2022 alone.