RailEnquiry

Commandos of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) took charge of Adhir Chowdhury’s Behrampore home on Wednesday. Chowdhury, the MP from Behrampore, was included in the union cabinet in the recent reshuffle and inducted as minister of state for Railways. Earlier, Central government security

guards were deployed for the protection of his home. However, nearly two years ago these guards were replaced with two armed bodyguards provided by the state government. According to Railway ministry protocol, RPF jawans are to provide security for the new MoS. There are certain commandos in the force specially train to provide security to the department’s officials. Former railway minister, Mamata Banerjee, enjoyed RPF security for a long period, even after leaving the Railway ministry and being elected chief minister of West Bengal.

A source at the Railway department said that 20 RPF commandos have been allotted to guard Chowdhury’s house. He is likely to be assigned some other bodyguards as well. Under the leadership of assistant security commissioner SK Roy, the troop has started their duty today at Adhir’s residence ‘Chowdhury Villa’ near Gorabazar, Behrampore.

“A number of times, goons have tried to barge into the house of the Behrampore MP. Since then, we have been telling district police administration to increase Adhir’s security arrangements. But our requests have, unfortunately, fallen on deaf years. Instead of increasing security, the government security guards were withdrawn without even informing the MP,” said a senior leader of the district Congress.

“A few months ago, when Adhir Chowdhury was going to attend a public meeting at Bilbari, some goons had planned to assassinate him. Fortunately, he was saved,” added the leader.

Cops reportedly recovered some arms and ammunition from a house in the area, which were allegedly hoarded for the purpose of killing the MP. One person was even arrested.

“I have come to know that Adhir Chowdhury has decided not to take any additional security guards from the state government when he returns to West Bengal. He will move under the security coverage of the RPF commandos,” the Congress leader said.

“According to Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal is now experiencing deep financial constrains. So, why would they spend money behind my security? I have no need for the security from the state government and I will not take that when I will be in West Bengal,” Adhir Chowdhury told HT from on the telephone from New Delhi.

“I don’t like so many security men around me. But I am bound to obey some protocols for the MoS of the Railway department. So, I will take the security of the RPF,” he added.

Murshidabad superintendent Humayun Kabir said, “So far, we haven’t got any letter from the MoS, Railway ministry, to withdraw his body guards. So they will remain posted.”