'Z' security for Tarun Gogoi?

NEW DELHI, March 8 ? Is Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi and his deputy the Minister of State for Home, Pradyut Bordoloi looking for ?Z? category security cover in the face of threats from outlawed ULFA? If a recent report received from Assam Government is anything to go by, then the Black Cat cover is what they are eyeing. According to sources, Assam Government has recently informed the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) that the ULFA militants have categorised the Chief Minister and Sri Bordoloi as ?enemy? because of the State government?s hard-line approach against militancy. The Home ministry has been informed that Assam Government is taking all necessary measures for the security of its Chief Minister and his Minister of State after being put on the hit list. It may be mentioned that the Inter Security Department from time to time reviews the threat perception to various VIPs country-wide and based on reports from the State government and the intelligence agencies the security status in graded. It has been learnt that as of now there is no possibility of either of the two being given ?Z? category security status, though it cannot be ruled out in future. It may be recalled here that after the crackdown on militancy in the state succeeding chief ministers including late Hiteswar Saikia and Prafulla Kumar Mahanta were under Black Cat cover. Although Mahanta still has ?Black Cat? cover, the security status of many a VIP was reviewed in 1999-2000 under express orders of the Union Home Minister, LK Advani. After the review, security covers of many eminent personalities have been downgraded. The notable among those who lost ?Z? category security from the region included Matang Singh. Sources in the ministry said that their own reports from Assam indicated that ULFA following two crackdowns in lower Assam had early this year had reportedly described them as ?enemy? but after killing of a DSP last month, they have been silent. Meanwhile, 88 persons have fallen victims to insurgent?s bullets in Assam during the last three months, with outlawed NDFB killing 56 persons. Outlawed ULFA during the same period has killed 14 followed by UPDS (10), NSCN (3), DHD (4).