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| Heavier weapons for second tier of security | | |
B L KAK
NEW DELHI, NOV. 13: Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra are potential targets, with terrorists on the prowl in more than 12 States. Government sleuths have pointed out that the absence of a full-fledged "specialised apparatus" in Gujarat and Assam and of course in the northeastern States is "alarming".
According to the reported asessment of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Chief Ministers in over 12 States face a serious nature of threat. These States have been identified as Jammu and Kashmir, UP, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, besides seven States in the volatile northeast region. Intelligence agencies azt the Centre, particularly the IB, has been insiting for quite some time that police forces in the States set up their own exclusive VIP security apparatus.
But most State governments, according to offical sources, are yet to comply, leaving their heads vulnerable to attack. Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, UP, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are among the States which have raised and are operating separate VIP security units. Despite constant reminers by the IB, several States are yet to raise their own separate force which would solely be responsible for protecting Chief Ministers and other VIPs.
A Home Ministry source, while talking to Early Times, described the VIP protection forces in the six States as "well trained and efective". He underscored the need for what was termed as "standardisation" of weaponry for proximate protection teams, escorts and house guards. The Intelligence Bureau has been insiting that protectees review committees (PRCs) in each State must pay immediate attention to induction of standard small arms and relatively heavier automatic weaponry for the second tier of security.
India's security establishment, it is said, has not been able to obtain fool-proof technology for detection of IEDs (improvised explosive devices). Under the government of India's scrutiny is a proposal which seeks Black Cat commandoes of the NSG (National Security Guard) to all VIPs, including Chief Ministers.
However, some experts have pointed out that the NSG cannot be part of a close protection team for several reasons. Their induction would mean two diferent agencies providing proximate security to one VIP. According to these experts, the only answer to the problem will be well-trained, self-contained State security units. |
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