Security was significantly tightened at Lok Bhavan, the official residence of the West Bengal Governor in Kolkata, following a serious threat against Governor CV Ananda Bose. The alert was issued late on Thursday after the Governor's office received a threatening email.
Details of the Threat and Immediate Response
According to an official statement, the threatening email contained a direct warning, stating "will blast him". Given the gravity of the threat, the matter was promptly reported to the Union Home Ministry in New Delhi. An immediate security review was conducted, leading to the deployment of additional protective measures around the Governor.
Governor Bose, who already has a Z-plus security cover, is now under a coordinated protection detail involving both the West Bengal Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Senior security officials held a late-night meeting to assess the threat and further strengthen the existing security arrangements. Officials revealed that similar threatening messages have been received in the past, and an investigation into the latest email is currently underway.
Political Reactions and Wider Context
The incident quickly drew sharp political reactions. BJP leader Amit Malviya launched a strong criticism against the state's ruling dispensation. "Welcome to Mamata Banerjee's regime, where even the Governor is not safe. Law and order has completely collapsed in West Bengal," he said. Malviya further alleged, "The Home Minister, Mamata Banerjee, is busy snatching incriminating files from the ED in order to protect a private firm accused of coal smuggling and money laundering. Mamata Banerjee is an unmitigated disaster."
This security scare occurs amidst heightened political tensions in the state. Earlier on the same day, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the office of political consultancy I-PAC while the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was conducting searches there. These searches were linked to an alleged coal smuggling and money laundering case.
Ongoing Investigation and Security Status
Questioning the ED's actions during the raid, Chief Minister Banerjee accused the central agency of seizing materials related to her party, including hard disks, candidate lists, and strategic documents. She alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah was misusing central agencies for political purposes.
As of now, security at the Governor's residence remains on high alert. The investigation into the origin and sender of the threatening email is ongoing, with authorities working to trace its source. Further details regarding the probe are awaited.
