After security breach, CISF roped in to secure Parliament

The Central Industrial Security Force has begun conducting a security survey of the Parliament premises, officials said on Thursday, calling it the first step before the agency takes charge of security, days after a worrying breach when two men reached the Well of Lok Sabha and set off smoke cannisters. Read here: Days after breach, CISF conducts security survey of Parliament complex While no formal handover of security has been announced, a person aware of the matter said such a move is expected and once formalised, the agency will put in place the sort of security protocols in force at the country’s airports, which too it guards. On December 13, the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack, two men walked through three layers of security with smoke canisters concealed in their shoes, vaulted into the Lok Sabha from the visitors’ gallery and set off yellow smoke before being overpowered by the MPs. According to an internal communication of the CISF, seen by HT, the headquarters on Wednesday asked the inspector general of the National Capital Region to conduct a “joint survey of the Parliament and its buildings.” The officer has also been directed to rope in personnel from the agency’s fire unit, survey the complex, complete the security and fire surveys, and submit a report to the headquarters as soon as possible.