Why CISF will take charge of Parliament security from Delhi Police

A big security overhaul is on the cards after the massive Parliament breach last week. The Centre is planning to hand over the ‘comprehensive’ security of the Parliament building and its premises to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has reportedly asked the force to survey the complex for the deployment of its security wing and fire wing before taking charge. The development comes against the backdrop of two intruders entering the Lok Sabha chamber and releasing yellow coloured smoke while raising slogans. Two other individuals set off smoke canisters outside Parliament and shouted slogans. They were later arrested by the Delhi Police and booked under the stringent anti-terror Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The alleged mastermind of the major breach and a sixth accused are also in police custody. Let’s take a look at why the CISF has been picked for Parliament security upgrade. Brief history of CISF The CISF is a central armed police force (CAPF) established under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in 1969. It was set up under the Central Industrial Security Force Act, 1968 to provide security to sensitive government and industrial buildings. The CISF, which had 3,129 personnel during its formation, boasts a present strength of over one lakh personnel. It is the only force with a “customised and dedicated fire wing”, according to its website. What the CISF protects The CISF guards 358 establishments across the country. It is giving security cover to various strategic units, including atomic power plants, airports, space installations, hydroelectric or thermal power plants, defence production units, mines, oil fields and refineries, major seaports, heavy engineering, steel plants, Delhi Metro, and historical monuments like the Taj Mahal in Agra and Delhi’s Red Fort. [caption id=“attachment_13531552” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] CISF personnel at the Taj Mahal in Agra on 14 December 2022. PTI File Photo[/caption] “The specialised task of airport security was assigned to CISF in 2000 in the wake of the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 to Kandahar. The force has since been deployed at 66 airports across the country, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru,” an official told Indian Express. The CISF is also responsible for the security of some private sector units and key government buildings in Delhi. Besides central government properties, the force provides cover to “protectees” classified under Z Plus, Z, X, and Y categories. It also offers consultancy services on security and fire protection to government organisations and private sector, according to Hindustan Times (HT). ALSO READ: Karnataka techie, Bhagat Singh fan: Who are two new detainees in Parliament breach case? How CISF will protect Parliament Citing the Home Ministry’s Wednesday (20 December) notification, NDTV has reported that the CISF will take over the charge of Parliament security from the Delhi Police. It will handle several responsibilities, including frisking entrants. The Lok Sabha Secretariat will continue to be responsible for security within the Parliament building, while the Delhi Police will guard the outer perimeter. According to PTI, experts from the government building security (GBS) unit of the CISF, its fire combat and response officers as well as officials from the current Parliament security team will conduct the survey later this week. A source told Indian Express that after carrying out the survey of the Parliament complex, the CISF will submit its report to the MHA. After this, it will take over the security charge from the Delhi Police and work with Parliament Security Services. This comes after the MHA directed a probe into the 13 December Parliament security breach following which an inquiry committee under Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General Anish Dayal Singh was set up. [caption id=“attachment_13531562” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Members of Central Industrial Security Force patrol with a sniffer dog outside Union Home Ministry building in Delhi on 27 February 2019. Reuters File Photo[/caption] The panel reportedly found lapses at the security entrance, especially during the frisking of visitors. The intruders had slipped coloured canisters into cavities cut into customised sports shoes, bypassing the Delhi Police’s physical checks. The security scare had come on the 22nd anniversary of the terror attack on the old Parliament building. “Delhi Police personnel went on deputation to the Parliament Security Services. They are not working under the command of Delhi Police, but at the entrance gate, the personnel are working under the command of its security wing division,” a senior official was quoted as saying by Indian Express_._ The Parliament Security Service is the overall coordinating agency responsible for access control into the House complex. Other agencies such as the Delhi Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Special Protection Group (SPG) and National Security Guard (NSG) also ensure the safety of the MPs at Parliament. Soon, the new and the old Parliament complex and their allied buildings will come under a “comprehensive” security cover of the CISF, along with the existing Parliament Security Service, the Delhi Police and the Parliament Duty Group (PDG) of the CRPF, sources told PTI. With inputs from agencies