A fresh security audit of VIP security, while ruling out a perceptible increase in the threat perception to them, has suggested “fine-tuning” the security arrangements for some protectees, including that of Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi. According to government sources, the security audit was
necessitated following a breach in Mr Gandhi’s security at a Congress rally in Phulpur in Uttar Pradesh and the recent slapping incident involving Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar.
The VIP security unit of the Intelligence Bureau that was handed over the task of carrying out the security audit has in its report to the Union home ministry said that though the present security cover for most VIPs was adequate in certain cases “minor adjustments and fine-tuning was required for which the concerned security agencies should be sensitised”. Sources said the intelligence and security establishment was particularly concerned when the activists of the Samajwadi Party breached the security cordon at the Phulpur rally and managed to reach Mr Gandhi’s helicopter as he happens to be an SPG protectee.
With the Congress general secretary scheduled to tour Uttar Pradesh extensively in the run-up to the Assembly elections in the state next year the report clearly recommends “the outer security cordon at public rallies and functions being attended by Mr Gandhi to be made more stringent and foolproof. The local police should make all necessary arrangements, even if it requires additional deployment, as per the requirement of the SPG.”
Sources said the SPG’s Ring Round Team (RRT) which provides proximate security and forms the innermost cordon has already been directed to be much more alert in wake of the Phulpur incident.
It has been recommended that in cases where VIPs move around with only PSO, the security officers should remain extra vigilant.