The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will soon create three specialised battalions to provide VIP security to the protectees. The CRPF is world’s largest paramilitary force with 2,73,950 police personnel available for security operations including anti-naxal offensive and insurgency in the Northeast.
At present, the CRPF has 35 protectees in its VIP security list. VIP security is provided after the recommendation of Protection Review Group (PRG) and Security Categorisation Committee of the Home Ministry.
With three battalions, comprising 1,000 personnel each, the paramilitary force will be able to meet the growing demand of Z+ and Z category security for VIPs facing threat.
“We have decided to create an exclusive VIP protection unit in the force with a dedicated manpower of three battalions. The number of protectees under the force is growing and so we wanted to standardise protocols in this regard and effectively render this duty,” CRPF Chief Dilip Trivedi said. A training centre for the commandos will be set up in Haryana which will train personnel for proximate security drills, vehicle driving, anti-sabotage check, access control and special weapons handling.
CISF, aother central force, is also providing security cover to 37 high risk individuals across the country which involves 1,250 trained personnel. The security cover to all central protectees and state government protectees who have been provided security cover by the Centre, are reviewed periodically.