After a fresh look at things, the state has made the call to scale back Ganguly’s protection. The shift from Z to Y means his mobile team is now three strong, while the eyes on him at his residence in Behala don’t waver. It changes the dynamic for his appearances out in public.
To the local police and those running an event, this is a matter of having a few less people in the field when one of Bengal’s best-known faces is around. Don’t read it as a step back in safety; it’s just a more economical way to handle what the state sees as the level of risk today.
Decision and rationale
State officials say the security committee made the final call after a thorough review. There was no particular incident or red flag to set it off – this is simply the kind of periodic housekeeping you do, not a reaction to some new trouble.
Even with the Y tag, Ganguly has a police detail, only a more modest one. His mobile security has been pared down to a specialist trio. As for his place in Behala, the dedicated surveillance and monitoring there is in place as before.
What Y category looks like
In India, your security is a function of the perceived threat. Z is up there at the top; Y has a lighter hand. The rules of the road are about how many officers you have with you and at the places you go.
You will notice the difference with Ganguly, whether he’s in a car or at a venue. The state is still on the job, but the circle around him is a bit tighter:
– A mobile escort of three
– Ongoing watch at the Behala home
– Not as much of a presence as the Z setup would have
Impact on appearances and event security
Being head of the Cricket Association of Bengal and showing up to all manner of functions, Ganguly is a draw. With a leaner mobile unit, the people organising an event may have to work a little closer with the local police on the ins and outs of stage and entry protocols.
Some of this is familiar. Before he was put in the Z bracket, his Y-category days were marked by Special Branch and a police cordon at his home. In a way, we are going back to that, with a moving detail that is a bit less in your face.
How the posture shifted since 2023
This undoes an earlier move. Back in 2023, once his time in Y was up, the state upped his game to Z. They put eight or ten men on the case then, for good reason at the time.
Now, they don’t see the need for that kind of force. It is a reminder that these aren’t set in stone; as the intelligence comes in, so does the deployment adjust.
What to watch next
Categories can and do change with the times. If there is a big swing in where he is going, the size of the crowds or the nature of an event, expect another look at it. That’s par for the course for someone of his profile with state-provided cover.
At the moment, the state is trying to have its cake and eat it too: be visible, be on guard, but don’t put more men than you have to on the line. Ganguly is still under police wing, but resources are being put where they make sense according to the current reading of the room.
