PM Modi’s visit to Punjab was cut short on Wednesday when his cavalcade was held up on a flyover for 15-20 minutes after a ‘major security lapse’, as alleged by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Centre has demanded an explanation from the Punjab government, and there is a massive outcry against the Congress government in the State saying that the government that cannot ensure security to the leader of the land has no right to remain in power.
Who handles the PM’s security?
The Special Protection Group (SPG) is tasked with the safety and security of the Prime Minister. The PM is provided with the highest level of security that an individual can get in India, and as of now, Modi is the only one in the country under SPG cover.
The SPG was set up in 1985 after the assassination of Indira Gandhi. The Parliament enacted the SPG Act in 1988. The Act was amended to include protection to former PMs and their families for a minimum period of 10 years after they leave office, following the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. Subsequently, in 2003, the Vajpayee government again amended the Act to bring the period of automatic protection down from 10 years to “a period of one year from the date on which the former prime minister ceased to hold office” and beyond one year based on the level of threat as decided by the Centre.
SPG comprises an elite commando force responsible for providing proximate security and the personnel form the immediate cordon around the PM. Not just with the proximity in person, the SPG is also responsible for the Advanced Security Liaison (ASL). This means that the SPG has minute-to-minute documentation of the PM’s itinerary and monitors it closely.
What are travel rules?
When the PM is travelling, the charge of his itinerary and the minute documentation is passed on to the State police. However, the SPG supervises this very closely. The State police are tasked with security liaison that includes ensuring routes that the PM is scheduled to travel on are clear of any blocks and threats. The perimeters of the venues are also to be secured by the State police. However, the SPG retains the right of frisking anyone coming close to the PM in person and checking for sabotages.
The route not only includes the primary one decided by the State police in consultation with the SPG but also at least one alternate route in case of a contingency. This is especially the case when the PM is scheduled to reach the venue by helicopter. Usually, there is more than one backup route planned and secured. These routes are decided in advance and there is a full rehearsal and check carried out from the landing point to the venue within 24 hours before the PM’s arrival. The standard operating procedure also mandates that the highest-ranking police officer in the State — no less than the rank of Director General of Police (DGP) or an official designated by the DGP — must travel in the PM’s cavalcade.
Who all are to be involved as per the Blue Book?
The travel arrangements in the district are made in consultation with the SPG, and shared, approved and signed by the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and the District Magistrate (DM) besides the others in the meeting with the SPG. The PM’s security details during State visits are as per the Blue Book issued to States by the MHA. Besides the SPG and the top official of the State police (the Director-General of Police and those authorised by her/him), the PM’s travel plans are shared with the Chief Minister, the Home Minister and the Chief Secretary.
A state like Punjab, which shares borders with Pakistan, and the Hussainiwala village, which is actually on the India-Pakistan border, there is absolutely no justification for any of these security layers falling through the gaps. While the SPG immediately jumped into action and was seen guarding the PM’s cavalcade, the State police have no excuse for the vulnerability in security arrangements and the lapses of one of the most protected persons in the world.
