If media reports are to be believed, a Diplomatic Security
Force (DSF) and a Parliament Duty Group (PDG) are in the offing. The Ministry
of Home Affairs is said to be in the process of fast-tracking a Delhi Police
proposal to set up a dedicated force to protect foreign missions and envoys.
Israel is rumoured to have expressed its willingness to train the Force. It has
also been stated that the specialized force may be deputed to protect India’s
diplomatic missions abroad subsequently. The PDG, it is understood, would draw
its personnel from the best trained men and women of the CRPF with commando and
tactical training besides expertise in dealing with biological and nuclear
emergencies.
Security methodologies do not change with individuals
Professionally speaking, the methodologies for providing
security to an individual, a group or to structures do not change based on who
the protected is. The level of security to be provided would be based on
intelligence inputs and assessment. The location and the circumstances too will
have a say in the matter. If protection is the criteria, the state police
providing security to the Chief Minister could not be any different from the
Special Protection Group (SPG) providing security to the Prime Minister. The
degree of protection is based on the threat and not on whose life is more
important.
Rationalization vs. empire building
A number of organizations including the SPG, National
Security Guard (NSG), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), various state police
and other agencies provide security to an assortment of people of different
risk categories. Each of these organizations adopts its own method based on
training, competence and perception. In a number of cases more than one agency
is drawn in and the responsibility is shared. Should so many agencies adopting
different methodologies be involved in providing security, a job that requires
almost similar competencies? The needs of financial prudence, efficiency,
professionalism and accountability suggest rationalization of the entire
system.
Creating a concoction by milking personnel from State Police
Forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), each with a different culture
and ethos, would be nothing more than adding one more to the already existing
alphabet soup of security forces. An IPS officer, who is more of a manager than
a leader, to head the organisation would be a further disaster. Training a few
officers and men by specialists from some foreign country or the other would be
a mere publicity stunt. Turnover, promotions and wastages would further nullify
the anticipated dividends. The creation of DSF or PDG, in the manner as has
been suggested, would be a mere empire building exercise without any tangible
upgrade to professionalism, which is missing in all the existing security
establishments.
Create a system and not physical numbers
If the Government is indeed serious about creating an
institution with a difference and break from the present work culture and ethos
of the Police Forces in the country, this is an opportunity that should not be
wasted.
The aim should be to create a single Security Group (SG)
consisting of a training establishment specializing in security issues and a
number of units to meet different areas of security as per the requirement. The
organisation should be capable of handling all envisaged security situations of
the protected throughout the country in an unobtrusive manner. It should have
an inbuilt bomb detection, disposal and electronic surveillance capability.
Personnel may be transferred from one unit to the other to
avoid them becoming stale. The establishment needs to take into account the
need for regular training to maintain the standards of physical fitness and
professional skills. The best of the lot could be picked and posted to the DSF
and PDG. As and when more numbers are trained, they could be utilized to replace
the existing arrangements manned by the other agencies of the centre. If need
be our diplomatic establishments abroad could be staffed by these personnel
subsequently. As and when this force is made operational, corresponding numbers
could be offset from the other establishments. If ego is not an issue, the best
of the lot could also replace the SPG. States could make use of the central
selection and training facilities for bringing their apparatus at par with the
central agency.
As a first step, it may be prudent to put a training
infrastructure in place as a feeder organisation for the SG as against creating
the DSF or PDG from personnel milked from various organisations. A pool of
instructors for the training establishment could be trained in selected foreign
countries. The instructors need to be trained to meet our specific requirements
and the course content specifically designed to meet our needs and demands. The
training would be at two levels; one for the officers and the other for the
rest.
Designing and creating the organisation
Two to three selected experts with practical experience and
knowledge in the field should be entrusted with the task of designing and
creating this organisation. This selected team of consultants could visit
training establishments in selected countries and have extensive discussions on
the possible course content and organizational models. They may also witness
their training, view training facilities, infrastructure, weapons and equipment
in use. It would be in the interest of the organisation to exclude personnel
from the existing security establishments or police personnel in this mission.
This organisation should under no circumstances be allowed to acquire the
Police culture or ethos.
Back home, the consultants should be able to contour the
organizational structure of these establishments. The infrastructure, training
facilities, weapons, equipment and other needs of the organisations would be a
logical output. Incidentally, the training establishment need not necessarily
be situated in or around Delhi.
The Manpower
Fresh graduates should be recruited on an all-India basis
for manning the organisations. Besides others, the criteria would include
social adaptability and attitudinal suitability. The initial lot could be put
under a selected team of Army instructors for preliminary training preferably
at the Infantry school. The syllabus could include physical fitness, marksman
training, field craft and minor tactics besides a few academic subjects
including law. The emphasis should be on creating the right kind of ethos,
culture and soft skills. At the end of the training, based on the instructional
capabilities exhibited by the trainees, a team of potential instructors could
be sent abroad for specialized training as a prelude to being employed as instructors
at the Training Establishment. The balance could be part of the SG.
As for officers, it would be most appropriate to select the
required number of officers from the cadets passing out of the Indian Military
Academy (IMA) for permanent absorption to SG. Those selected should be allowed
to do the Young Officers (YO) course and preferably a six month attachment with
an infantry unit. Those found suitable as instructors could be sent abroad for
training. This lot would be physically fit, motivated and with basic military
training capable of absorbing specialized training abroad.
It may be preferable to have a serving or a retired
Lieutenant General to head the organisation with a mandate to develop the right
ethos, work culture and attitude in the Force.
Other issues for consideration
While creating such an agency, its specific role as well as
division of responsibility between the state police and the SG need clear
definition. Directions regarding briefing and assistance by local police and
intelligence agencies including at outstations need to be spelt out. Logistic
arrangements for out station duties need to be formalized with a one point
contact for efficient functioning. The aspect of investigations also need
clarity as unlike the US Bureau of Diplomatic Security, our Security agency may
not have the wherewithal and resources to carry out investigations.
Instructions for the protected should be scripted and communicated to the users
for better utilization of the force.
Conclusion
A lot has been said about the politicization, inefficiency
and corruption in the ranks of our Police Forces. These issues have affected
their public image and ability to discharge duties efficiently. It is time we
find a way to cleanse the system. The creation of a SG without any streak of
the Police in it would be a step in that direction. A single agency to take
care of all the security needs within the country would instil accountability,
professionalism and continuity.
By V. Mahalingam in http://idsa.in/idsacomments/CreatingaDiplomaticSecurityForce_vmahalingam_180213
