Kolkata, 03 June (H.S.) : The West Bengal government has decided to scale down the security cover provided to former India cricket captain and former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly. Ganguly, who had been receiving Z-category security, will now be provided Y-category protection, resulting in a two-tier reduction in his security arrangement.

Efforts were made to obtain Ganguly’s reaction to the decision, but the former cricketer declined to comment on the matter.

The move comes as part of an ongoing review of security arrangements for political leaders, public figures and other individuals receiving state-provided protection following the change in government in West Bengal.

Soon after assuming office, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had reportedly directed officials during a meeting at Nabanna to reassess security deployments across the state. The government stated that individuals without a credible security threat should not continue to receive enhanced protection at public expense.

Following the directive, state police initiated a comprehensive review of security cover extended to political leaders as well as other prominent personalities who had been granted special protection by the previous administration.

One of the first high-profile decisions under the review process involved the withdrawal of additional security provided to Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee. The government had maintained that he would continue to receive the security entitlement available to him in his capacity as a Member of Parliament.

Subsequently, the security cover of several Trinamool Congress leaders and former police officials was also reduced. Sourav Ganguly has now become the latest prominent figure to be affected by the government's security rationalisation exercise.

Officials have described the decision as part of a broader effort to align security deployment with current threat assessments and ensure that state resources are utilised appropriately.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh