CISF ready to take over VIP security, awaits Govt nod

Deoli, Rajasthan, Apr 29 (UNI) The CISF, all ''prepared'' to take on the job of VIP security, still awaits the government's notification, despite the recommendation of a 'high powered committee' of Ministry of Home Affairs five years ago.

''We are prepared to take over the job anytime,'' CISF Inspector General (Training&Adminstration) Ajeet Singh Shekhawat said.

''Our preparedness had started long back with the Home Ministry's sanction already in place, except for the notification which has yet to come,'' he said.

''Five years back the GoM (Group of Ministers) approved the CISF for VIP security but yet the 'final orders' are yet to come.'' ''Today we have reached a stage where formally we may soon be given the 'special job','' he said. ''We were already giving protection to 15 VIPs, including Goa Governor S C Jamir,'' he added.

''Over the years we transformed ourselves from an industrial security force to one which could handle multi-tasks under different circumstances, of which VIP security was one aspect,'' informed the IG.

''Taking our responsibility seriously we took up a separate training programme with inputs from the National Security Guards (NSG), Special Protection Group (SPG) and Israelis, and so far trained 1,900 personnel.'' ''While some of the training tactics were borrowed, some were developed on our own to give it our own feel and touch,'' Mr Shekhawat said.

Ever since the GoM recommended the principle of 'one force, one duty', several para-militray forces had been providing security to the VIPs but there was no dedicated force to handle the 'special duty'.

Later, the MHA sanctioned the CISF as the force which would look after VIP security but has failed to notify it till date.

UNI AN VJ JN GC1855