NSG Team Assesses Security Ahead Of Shree Jagannath Rath Yatra

An eight-member team of the National Security Guard (NSG) led by IG (Operations), Odisha Soumendra Priyadarshi took stock of the security measures at the Shree Jagannath Temple and also the security arrangements for the ensuing Rath Yatra here.

During the visit to the temple, the team reviewed the stepped-up security measures at the four gates, the Koili Baikuntha, the sanctum sanctorum and all the shrines around the main temple.The team also examined the close-circuit cameras installed at several points and found some of these not working. The NSG officials also suggested for installation of additional CC cameras at certain crucial points inside the temple.

Later, the officials went to the CCTV control room and watched the visuals. They also took note of the shortcomings of the system in the control room. The team inspected the watchtowers erected along the four sides of the temple boundary wall (Meghanad Pacheri) and noted down their suggestions for a better strategic surveillance.

The team, which spent 90 minutes inside the temple from 11 am to 12.30 pm, did not share the details of their Puri visit with the media for ‘security reasons’.However, sources said the NSG officials, in association with the local police, had a mock drill inside Hotel Mayfair here in the late night hours. The mock exercise in the seaside hotel was basically a rehearsal of an anti-terrorist operation, sources said.

Source: http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhubaneswar/nsg-team-assesses-security-ahead-of-rath-yatra.html

NSG security drills in Bhubaneswar

BHUBANESWAR: In the wake of recent visit of two Indian Mujahideen operatives to the state capital and Puri, the National Security Guard (NSG) has decided to conduct security drills at these places on Wednesday.

While police are tight-lipped about the 'mock' operation, sources said some NSG officers reached here on Tuesday. "It is their (NSG) secret drill. We cannot disclose anything," special DGP (headquarters) Sanjeev Marik told TOI.

This is for the second time the elite central armed police force chose Bhubaneswar for the exercise. On January 2, NSG officers carried out drills at a star hotel and a private university here.

Though police refused to divulge the locations identified by the NSG, sources said the agency would conduct mock drills at a hotel near Bhubaneswar railway station and another hotel in Puri.

Police said the objective of the mock drill was to sensitize police and hoteliers about precautions to avoid any untoward incident.

"The NSG officers will assess the threat perception and advice hotels on upgrading their security system," a police officer said.

The NSG authorities are likely to meet DGP and other senior government officers on Thursday and discuss security measures at Jagannath Temple in Puri.

Odisha police recently said they would take the advice of central armed police forces to upgrade security at the 12th century shrine, which is one of the high-risk category temples in the country. With mega Nabakalebar scheduled for 2015, they want to plug the loopholes in their security mechanism.

"We do not want to leave anything to chance. Since IM operatives claimed to have planned attacks during this year's Rath Yatra, we will seek recommendations from NSG authorities to improve security arrangements ahead of the festival," the police officer added.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/NSG-security-drills-in-Bhubaneswar-today/articleshow/35670250.cms

Unprecedented security for Modi's swearing-in ceremony

In what is being labelled as an extra-ordinary security set-up, more than 6000 security personnel from Delhi Police, para-military, national security guards (NSG) and armed forces will stand guard on May 26 when PM-designate Narendra Modi will take the oath in presence of around 3000 dignitaries.

Visiting heads of government will be guarded as per their individual threat assessment with the highest security cover to be thrown around Nawaj Sharif, Hamid Karzai and Mahindra Rajpaksa.

The security establishment is leaving no stone upturned as the threat assessment for this ceremony is far more than even a summit where such dignitaries usually assemble. There were initial apprehensions among the intelligence agencies about an open-air ceremony. As invitees include foreign dignitaries and diplomats, the arrangements have been tailored to take care of all related security concerns.

Central intelligence agencies have informed Delhi Police about possible attempts by the terrorist groups to disrupt the ceremony and security agencies of respective countries are working in tandem with the Indian intelligence to provide adept security cover to the guests. The security personnel of eight visiting countries - Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, Bhutan and Afghanistan - would also coordinate with Delhi Police the personal security of their dignitaries.

The security unit of Delhi Police and the prime minister's security unit have drawn out a multi-layer security plan and sources said a policeman will be deployed every twenty meters on Monday.

Roads by which the foreign dignitaries' carcade will move to the Rashtrapati Bhavan and back will be closed 10 minutes in advance. Raisina Hill will be cordoned off Vijay Path onwards. North Block and South Block offices will be shut at 1 pm and secured by Central para-military troops.

Metro stations at Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhavan, however, will not be closed to prevent crowds from building up.

The area in two-kilometer radius around Rashtrapati Bhawan will be secured from ground to air by an air defense system. Apart from para-military and special cell's commandos, mobile Quick Response Teams, anti-aircraft weapons and NSG commandos will be stationed at strategic locations. The anti-aircraft guns will also be in position at Rashtrapati Bhavan, even as the airspace above will be closed and secured by IAF. Sources say that anti-sabotage checks at RP Bhawan, five hotels in Lutyens Zone - Maurya Sheraton, Taj Mansingh, Taj Palace, Leela Palace and Oberoi have already been put in place, which will be repeated four-five times till Monday evening. Most of the guests out of 3000 invites including Head of States (HOSs) and their representatives would be staying at these hotels.

While 5 best sniffer dogs have been asked form Delhi Police, the other forces have also chipped in their best canines. The bomb disposal squads of NSG and other units have been readied with the Delhi police's squads being in reserve.

The special branch has also scanned the identity of people who have stayed in these hotels in May and identity cards of hotels staff, people used for catering, security and logistical RP Bhawan would be prepared by Delhi Police after proper verification.

The area around these hotels and the road leading from there to Rashtrapati Bhawan will be sanitized on Sunday. Enhanced security checks and extra police pickets and barricades will be enforced from Saturday night, sources said.

SWAT teams of the special cell have also been asked to be ready to combat any situation while their spotters have been deployed at secret locations which are high-rises like hotels and buildings in central Delhi.

From Gujarat Bhawan, where Narendra Modi is staying, to Rashtrapati Bhawan, special arrangements for security on the route have also been made. Modi may reach President House surrounded with a contingent of cars.

Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Unprecedented-security-for-Modis-swearing-in-ceremony/articleshow/35530401.cms

UPA II reluctant to fill security posts lying vacant for months

 Officials in the Home Ministry worked frantically to ensure that a judge was appointed to probe Snoopgate in the last days of the UPA regime but there was no such urgency shown to fill important security posts lying vacant for months.

Top positions in the security establishment are vacant with no efforts being made to find suitable replacements.

Vacuum

The position of Special Secretary (Internal Security) in the Home Ministry, held by a Director General IPS officer, has been vacant for the past eight months since the retirement of S. Jayaraman in September 2013. The officer heads the ministry's internal security wing and reports directly to the home secretary.

Even the position of Secretary (Security) in the Cabinet Secretariat, appointed by the Prime Minister, was not filled after Yashovardhan Azad was appointed Information Commissioner in November 2013.

Several other vacant positions in paramilitary forces are also held by senior IPS officers.

The ministry has also put on hold the empanelment of 1981 and 1984 batches of the IPS as Special Directors General and Additional Directors General at the Centre.

"With senior positions remaining vacant, officers are given additional charge, which means more work and pressure. It also leads to hectic lobbying for vacant positions," said a senior officer.

The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), which guards the Indo-Nepal border and carries out other internal security duties, is without a chief. Its chief Arun Chaudhary retired on April 31. Central Industrial Security Force DG Arvind Ranjan has been given its additional charge. Earlier Ranjan held additional charge of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) when he was heading the National Security Guard.

No special DGs

The CISF, responsible for securing airports and industrial units, was also without a regular DG for nearly three months when Ranjan was appointed in December 2013.

The largest paramilitary force, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) serving in Maoist areas, northeast and Jammu and Kashmir, is without three Special DGs, who are responsible for heading three field formations in the northeast, Kashmir and Central zones.

The government has done away with the post of Additional DG in the ITBP for the time being. Sources said this is a crucial post as the Additional DG directly coordinates with IGs and supervises operations. The post was given to National Disaster Response Force chief Mahboob Alam who was previously serving as additional DG in ITBP. Alam also held the charge of DG for some time as the government did not appoint a full-time DG. The BSF is also without two Special DGs and one Additional DG.

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/home-ministry-upa-ii-sashastra-seema-bal-cisf-crpf-itbp/1/361692.html