Delhi Police creates SSG for the Gandhis,

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

special report

Delhi Police creates SSG for the Gandhis,

CRPF protects 50 plus VIPs now

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Jan. 14

The Delhi Police is understood to have created a special wing nick-named as “SSG” for the protection & security of the members of the Gandhi family. If sources are to be believed, the SSG has been created under an officer of the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) rank who will coordinate with the CRPF security wing. The Special Security Group (SSG) has effectively replaced the Special Protection Group (SPG) which used to provide security cover to members of the Gandhi family and also to the former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

The new arrangement has finally taken shape with the SSG incharge of the security in close coordination with the VIP security wing of the CRPF. The CRPF will provide the immediate security cover to the Gandhis and Priyanka Vadra and her children and the Delhi Police will give peripherial security cover. The CRPF's Inspector General (Intelligence and VIP security) P K Singh, has devised a very stringent security protocols not only for the members of the Gandhi family but also other high-profile VIPs figuring in the list of protectees.

In fact, most of the facilities including the vehicles and technical equipment etc are being provided to the CRPF's VIP security wing which were with the SPG. The CRPF guards more than 60 VIPs including the Gandhis across the country with the aid and assistance of local police. There are 15 in the Z+ category, 21 under Z and remaining in various other categories. It has communicated fresh instructions for the security of these VIPs to all the states and Union Territories so they can provide the necessary intelligence and police support when the VIPs visit them.

The sources said the the Union Home Ministry continues to view security threat to the Gandhis “very high” and chalked out improved protocol. The Gandhis’ security would continue to include an Advance Security Liaison (ASL) and Special Armoured Vehicles (SAV) — hallmarks of SPG cover. Now that the National Security Guards (NSG) is being convetred completely into a Counter terrorist operations, it will no more look after personal security cover for any indivisual in the country. All Black-cat commandos have been withdrawn from the secyurity duties.

In fact, the Gandhis will get the same security set up provided to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. It may be mentioned that the threat to the life of Amit Shah has gone up in the recent past particularly after the abrogation of Article 370.

Secondly, the CRPF's VIP security will be given the same training which is being provided to the SPG personnel. On November 8, the Centre had withdrawn the Gandhis’ SPG cover saying that the force was created to protect the sitting PM & his family.

Priyanka's security breached

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

A Lokmat Exclusive story

Priyanka's security breached

CRPF aghast as Car entered her Lodhi Estate House

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Nov 27

The Security and Intelligence agencies are shocked that the fortress like security cover to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been breached. The security breach is considered unprecedented for a high-risk protectee. Not only the Gandhis but the newly deputed CRPF VIP Security Unit is also aghast at the breach in the broad day light.

It was Monday afternoon when Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was at her 35 Lodhi Estate residence with her family members. All of a sudden a car entered inside the porch and five person including a young girl alighted. They walked straight into her garden and requested for a photo opportunity. They claimed that they had all the way from UP to Delhi only to be photographed with her. A surprised Priyanka didn't know how to respond by visitors who had no prior appointment and nor she had told the CRPF guards about it either. She agreed for a photo session and before the CRPF guards could realise what was happening, the five visitors had gone. All hell broke as Priyanka wanted to know how these visitors were allowed inside without her permission and that too along with the car.

This is considered the worst security lapse as the VIP being guarded by a trained guards not only allowed the car to enter the premises but did not even check the identity of the occupants.

A DIG level of the CRPF rushed to the house to inquire and was surprised that the guards on duty did the blunder. They told the DIG that they thought the car belonged to Rahul Gandhi and hence did not stop it.

The Delhi Police officials are also worried as outer security is provided by them while inner security cover is with the CRPF.

When contacted, a senior police official told Lokmat that a high-level inquiry has been ordered by the CRPF and Delhi Police into the incident. The security guards responsible for the serious lapse on Monday have been sent packing.

Since the security cameras captured the car number of the occupants, the same has been traced. Detailed inquiries are underway about the antecedents of the occupants.

It may be mentioned that only last week the CRPF cover with Z plus status was provided to members of the Gandhi family including Priyanka.

Ends 

PM monitoring J&K on hourly Basis

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

PM monitoring J&K on hourly Basis

Doval to Stay put in Valley until 15^th August

Local Police-Militant nexus broken

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Aug 12

The Centre has firmly told the security forces in Kashmir Valley that minimal force be used in the event of protests and situation be handled with a humane face. The fact that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has deputed his National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval to interact with the common people and listen to their grievances, indicates a very cautious appoach. The fact that not a single shot has been fired and no tear gas shell has been used indicates that the PM's directives are being implemented on the ground so far. Of course, there are incidents where pellet guns were used against protesting youths. But videos also show that protesters also showed extreme restraint and didn't resort to violence. They were largely peaceful too.

Ajit Doval's mission is to ensure that Bakr Eid and Independence Day pass off peacefully, and Pakistan’s effort to engineer violence is neutralised. With the J&K becoming a Union Territory, the Central forces have taken over complete control of the Police administration. It now transpires that all Police Stations & posts are headed by a senior CRPF officer and the local SHO will report to him. K Vijay Kumar, Adviser (Security) to the Governor Satya Pal Malik has been posted there since June 2018 to take direct charge of the police administration so that the backbone of the police-militants nexus is broken. The informers network is given full protection & reward which had been demolished during the past 30 years.

In fact, immediately after the break-up of BJP-PDP alliance, the PMO sent its most trusted IAS officer BVR Subramaniam as Chief Secretary. Obviously, things were at works in the PMO about J&K after the BJP suo-moto broke the alliance and got rid Mehbooba Mufti.

The government is also maintaining a studied silence whether the Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit the Lal Chowk in Sri Nagar to hoist the National Flag. Its original plan that Tri colour be hoisted in every village in J&K on August 15 in on track.

Pulwama Terror attack

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Pulwama Terror attack

PM Modi : Sacrifices Shall Not Go In Vain"

Stunned Govt goes into a huddle

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 14

After a new chapter was written in the history of terror attacks in Jammu & Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned that “the sacrifices shall Not Go In Vain.”

A stunned government went into a huddle after reports of 30 CRPF Jawans were martyred in an unprecedented Fidayeen attack. Such an attack had not taken place in the troubled state during the past 30 years.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh rushed back to the Capital from Lucknow and went into a huddle with top security officers. Another round will be held in the Prime Minister's Office to review the alarming situation. Rajnath Singh also spoke to the DG, CRPF R R Bhatnagar over the telephone and took stock of the situation.

The National Security Adviser Ajit Doval spoke to Vijay Kumar, Security Adviser to the Jammu & kashmir governor.

What shocked the government was the timing of the attack when the situation in the Valley was looking under control. The year 2018 had been rather successful with only 26 attacks, just half than in 2017.

But it was clear from the PM's statement on twitter which was uploaded three hours after the attack. The PM said, "Attack on CRPF personnel in Pulwama is despicable. I strongly condemn this dastardly attack. The sacrifices of our brave security personnel shall not go in vain. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the families of the brave martyrs. May the injured recover quickly."

The sacrifices won't go in vain indicates that the Modi government will come down on the terror groups and their patrons with a heavy hand sooner than expected.

Rajnath Singh is likely to visit Srinagar tomorrow and Cabinet Committee on Security will meet shortly too, say sources.

Vijay Kumar conveyed to the NSA that there was “no specific and actionable intelligence” about the incident.

Ends

Abhinandan Back, Its Azhar's turn now

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Abhinandan Back, Its Azhar's turn now

Modi Mounts Pressure on Imran to act

India Isolating Pakistan globally

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, March 1

With Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman back in the country, India has launched a three-pronged attack on Pakistan to ensure that Azhar Masood is arrested and prosecuted for terror attacks in India. Since Azhar Masood has already owned up responsibility for the killing of 40 CRPF jawans in Pulwaha in J&K on February 14, Prime Minister Modi has seized this opportunity to force Pakistan to act.

If he persuaded France to move the resolution in UN Security Council to declare Azhar Masood as global terrorist with the support of UK & USA, efforts are on to persuade China not to veto it this time when it comes up in the next 10 working days. India has conveyed to China that it has withstood pressures from even Sangh Parivar to shun Chinese goods and ban Huawei like the USA has done.

It was a feather in Modi's cap that Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) stood firm in inviting India ignoring threat from Pakistan to boycott. Sushma Swaraj won hearts of 47 countries by her passionate speech and informed them India has 18.5 crores Muslim brothers and sisters who are microcosm of the diversity in India. Of course, she urged the OIC to “act together and stand together to combat global terrorism” without naming Pakistan.

India is also working hard with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to bring Pakistan in the ‘grey list’ from June at its next meeting. Pakistan is already on the watch list.

Highly placed sources in the government say that

India is set to reject Pakistan PM Imran Khan's offer for a joint probe into Pulwama attacks. India has conveyed to the world that nothing came out after it allowed Paki investigators to visit Pathankot airbase after the attack. India has made it clear that intelligence dossiers against those responsible for Pulwama and their perpetrators have already been handed over to Pakistan and shared the same with world powers. The Pakistan Minister has already said that Azhar Masood is in Pakistan. Therefore, its for Pakistan to act against him immediately if it wants peace process to begin. In any case, this being the election time, the ruling establishment in India would not lower its guard.

Ends