New Delhi, Jun 7 (PTI): Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat has been extended top category 'Z ' security cover with the commandos of CISF having been tasked with the job.

Officials said Bhagwat will now be guarded by an armed squad of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) during his stay at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur and when he travels to any place in Maharashtra and across the country.

"The Special Security Group of CISF has been entrusted with the task of securing the VVIP after a threat analysis made in this regard necessitated that Bhagwat be guarded by a trained team.

"He was till now being guarded by units of Maharashtra police and its armed reserve units under the same cover," a senior official said. As part of the security cover, the RSS 'Sarsanghchalak' will have about 60 commandos round-the-clock to protect him.

The VVIP commando unit of CISF is armed with sophisticated weapons like AK-series rifles and is equipped with latest gadgets for communication and anti-sabotage tasks. This unit is also identified as the 'centre of excellence" for VVIP security in the country. Sources said the elite squad will take over the security duties at Bhagwat's residence and the vehicles in his convoy will also be changed as per norms set for a 'Z ' central security VVIP."The decision to hand over his security to central forces from state police has been hanging for over an year now.

"The Union Home Ministry recently gave the sanction in this regard and tasked CISF with the job," they said. A number of other prominent figures like BJP President Amit Shah and government functionaries and politicians have been accorded such security cover in the recent past by the Union government.