Last Updated:December 28, 2025, 12:15 IST The decision was prompted by a series of protests and internal assessments flagging risks to the CEO and other senior election officials. The Centre has provided Y-plus security cover to the State Chief Electoral Officer, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, and deployed central armed forces at the CEO’s office. (Image: X/@CEOWestBengal) Security at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal has been significantly enhanced following concerns raised about safety nearly a month ago. Acting on these inputs, the Centre has provided Y-plus security cover to the State Chief Electoral Officer, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, and deployed central armed forces at the CEO’s office. According to Election Commission sources, central security agencies had proposed full Y-plus protection for the CEO. However, Agarwal reportedly expressed reservations during a meeting with central security officials, stating that he preferred the presence of only two central personnel. “What will I do with so much security?” he reportedly said. Central security officials responded that they were acting on explicit instructions to provide Y-plus cover. …