New Delhi, Dec 9 (IANS): Two hundred and sixty-one people have been given categorized security by the central government, as per a reply to an RTI query.

As per the information provided by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to Lucknow based activist Nutan Thakur, a total of 261 persons have been provided categorized security by the Central Government.

Nutan Thakur had sought information about persons who have been provided various security covers (like X, Y, Z, Z-plus etc) by the Central Government.

R Chaturvedi, Advisor VIP Security, MHA said that as on December 3, 30 persons have been given Z-plus, 47 have been given Z, 66 have been given Y-plus, 59 have been given Y and 59 persons have been given X category security.

As per the RTI query, IS-I Division, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India had provided the number of protectees, as on date, in various security categories, as provided by the Central Government, through its letter dated July 2018 signed by SCL Das, JS (IS-I) and FAA.

"Kindly provide the number of protectees, as on date, in various security categories, as provided by the Central Government, that is kindly provide the current status as regards the number of protectees in various security categories, as provided by the Central Government," as per the RTI query by Thakur.

Security is provided to high-risk individuals by the government depending on the threat perception. They are provided security cover under respective categories by the NSG (National Security Guards), CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force), CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) and state police.

Recently, Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut was granted Y category security when she visited Mumbai amid a spat with the ruling Shiv Sena alliance in Maharashtra.