New Delhi, Jan 15: A specialized unit of the CRPF, which had been reassigned from its duties guarding Parliament last year, has now officially been disbanded and integrated into the VIP security division of the force. This unit has recently been augmented with a new battalion consisting of over 1,000 personnel, according to officials on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a directive on Tuesday to “change the nomenclature” of around 1,400 personnel from the Parliament Duty Group (PDG) to the VIP Security Group (VSG) within the CRPF.
This decision follows earlier orders from the ministry this month to transfer battalion number 190, stationed in Jharkhand’s Chatra district, to the VIP security unit.
The battalion, originally engaged in anti-Naxal operations in Jharkhand, now supports the CRPF VIP security wing, which is responsible for protecting more than 200 individuals, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Gandhi family of the Congress party, consisting of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, among others.
“The responsibilities of the VIP security wing are growing daily. With the addition of a new battalion and the PDG, its personnel strength has surpassed 8,000,” a senior CRPF officer stated to PTI.
The PDG was removed from its duties at Parliament in May of last year when these responsibilities were transferred to the CISF. Although it was informally associated with the VIP security wing since its reassignment, the formal order on Tuesday ensures that its manpower will now be utilized for the safety of high-risk dignitaries.
“The force performed its duties with utmost dedication and without fault at Parliament, yet it faced significant consequences from a major security breach that occurred in 2023. It was an unfortunate departure for the CRPF from this prestigious duty station,” commented a senior PDG officer.
On December 13, 2023 — marking the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack — two individuals invaded the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow smoke from canisters, and shouted slogans before being subdued by MPs.(Agencies)
