A security personnel stands guard at Mamata Banerjee’s rally in Lalgarh on August 9, 2010

Calcutta, Jan. 25: The state government has agreed to include the Railway Police Force in Mamata Banerjee’s security ring.

“We have sent the blueprint for including RPF personnel in Mamata Banerjee’s security cover to the state home department. The home department in turn has forwarded the blueprint to the Union home ministry,” said the chief of Bengal’s security directorate, Arvind Kumar Maliwal.

Three politicians from Bengal — railway minister Mamata Banerjee, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee — enjoy Z-plus security. But Mamata will be the first to get central force personnel in her security cover.

Sources in the Trinamul Congress, however, said it was a demand that Mamata herself had made because she felt that the security provided by the state was inadequate. “Mamata Banerjee does not trust the security provided by the state government and has been vocal about it. We had approached the Union home ministry so that Mamata gets security personnel from the RPF as well. We are now happy,” said a retired IPS officer now with Trinamul.

Although the move can be viewed as the state’s lack of faith in its security apparatus, officers in charge of VIP security have heaved a sigh of relief.

Security cover for Mamata has been a thorny issue for the Left government as Trinamul leaders — including their chief, Mamata — had often accused the government of not doing enough to ensure her security. Mamata had often alleged that the state government kept tabs on her movements through her security.

A retired IPS officer close to Mamata, Rachpal Singh, said the Trinamul chief’s threat perception was higher than any other political leader. “Despite being a leader of the masses, who frequently visits vulnerable places, the state does not provide her with adequate security. We are happy that RPF men will now be part of her security,” said Singh.

But according to a senior police officer, providing security to Mamata had never been easy because of frequent changes in her schedule.

“The problem with the railway minister is that she keeps changing her plans on short notice. This makes our work difficult, as it is hard to organise foolproof security within a short time. We need at least some time for making the necessary security arrangements,” said a police officer handling VIP security.

Unscheduled stopovers were another challenge, said the officer, giving the example of an accident in Kolaghat on August 9 last year. “A truck had broken into her convoy and she had a narrow escape. But the incident would not have happened had her convoy not stopped,” he added.

The Union home ministry had acknowledged the presence of RPF vehicles in the minister’s convoy. It had added that this was a “gross violation” of guidelines for Z-plus security. The home ministry had asked both the RPF and the state government to “co-ordinate over the security issue of Ms Banerjee”.

Based on orders from the Centre, the security directorate in Bengal rehashed the security for Mamata, this time including the RPF.

According to the blueprint sent by the state in December, one vehicle carrying not more than six RPF personnel would be allowed in the minister’s convoy and a maximum of eight RPF officers would be allowed in the third and outer ring of Mamata’s security cover.