In the aftermath of a significant security breach in Parliament, the central government is actively discussing the transfer of “comprehensive” security responsibilities for the institution to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). Government sources revealed that this matter was a focal point in a recent meeting attended by officials from the Delhi Police, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the CISF, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and other relevant divisions.
While the final decision is expected in subsequent meetings next week, two key proposals were highlighted during the discussions. One suggested entrusting the CISF with the comprehensive security of Parliament due to its expertise, while the other recommended the continuation of Delhi Police security personnel at specific points. An order has already been issued to survey the Parliament building complex to gather insights before the potential deployment of the CISF, a central armed police force (CAPF) currently responsible for guarding various central government ministry buildings in Delhi, as well as installations in the nuclear and aerospace domains, civil airports, and the Delhi Metro.
This initiative comes on the heels of the Lok Sabha Secretariat suspending eight security personnel for lapses that contributed to the Parliament security breach on December 13. During this incident, two intruders, Manoranjan D and Sagar Sharma, entered the Lok Sabha from the visitors’ gallery, releasing smoke canisters. Both were subsequently arrested by the Delhi Police. Two additional individuals, Neelam Azad and Amol Shinde, were apprehended outside Parliament for a similar offense. All four face charges under the anti-terror Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
The breach occurred on the 22nd anniversary of the Parliament terror attack, with the intruders jumping into the Lower House chamber during Zero Hour. The ensuing chaos prompted the adjournment of the House until 2 pm. In response to the security lapse, the Lok Sabha Secretariat wrote to the MHA for a security review, leading to the suspension of visitor gallery passes until further notice. The MHA initiated an enquiry into the incident, forming a committee under CRPF Director General Anish Dayal Singh to investigate the breach, identify lapses, and recommend corrective actions. The committee is expected to submit its report promptly, addressing security improvements for Parliament.