After breach, CISF may be part of Parliament security

NEW DELHI: Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) may be the new entrant in Parliament security setup, given its proven expertise in access control, frisking and scanning at airports across the country, Delhi Metro and vital installations, including monuments with high footfall.

The development comes days after a serious security breach in Parliament saw two persons jumping into the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitor’s gallery and pumping yellow smoke from canisters packed in their shoes. Eight security personnel were suspended over the incident.




CISF — as per a letter exchanged between the MHA and joint secretary (security), Parliament — has got “in-principle” approval from MHA to conduct a joint survey of Parliament premises and its buildings for “regular deployment” of CISF security and fire wing “on comprehensive pattern”. The joint survey by the force, which currently protects 358 establishments across the country and is also engaged in VIP security and offering security consultancy, will assess the existing security facilities and prepare a comprehensive plan on the additions and deletions to be made. This is the usual pre-induction process followed by CISF.



Sources told TOI that the final approval of the CISF security plan and induction will come from the Lok Sabha secretariat, which oversees the security of Parliament premises. As of now, the security agencies involved in guarding Parliament are the Parliament Security Service, Delhi Police, CRPF and the Parliament Duty Group. Personnel from these individual agencies are on deputation to the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

It was not immediately clear if the CISF will be replacing any or all of these agencies, but a source indicated that CISF has been brought in as it is seen as most competent force to handle access control, frisking and baggage/articles screening at airports, metros and public monuments that witness high human traffic. CISF also has expertise with all the modern gadgets for access control and screening, for which a pressing need is being felt in the event of the December 13 security breach.



As of now, Delhi Police handles the frisking and screening of visitors at all entry points to Parliament complex.

An officer said even the CISF personnel, if deployed, will be on deputation to the Lok Sabha secretariat.



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