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 All Black-cat commandos have been withdrawn from the secyurity duties.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.
