The Hindu : National : CISF security for temples under study

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 11, 2006

National

National

CISF security for temples under study

Staff Reporter

Get ready for bigger role: Patil

GHAZIABAD: With temples becoming terrorist targets, the latest being the Sankat Mochan temple in Varanasi, the Centre is considering deploying the Central Industrial Security Force there, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said on Friday.

While the Mathura and Kashi temples were already being guarded by Central forces, the Government was now examining the feasibility of deploying the CISF at other important shrines. "We will have to see if providing security to all temples is possible," he told the 37th Raising Day parade of the CISF here.

The CISF provides security to Government offices, buildings and vital installations such as nuclear plants, space centres, airports, oil refineries, seaports, monuments, VVIP areas, steel plants, mints and coalfields.

Mr. Patil exhorted the force, which has 96,000 personnel, to focus on training and research as in future it would have to move into newer areas of operation. Its "strength, numbers, use and importance will increase in the days to come."

CISF Director-General S.I.S. Ahmed said the Subramaniyam Committee had in 2001 suggested that VIP security be handed over to the force and called upon the Centre to entrust this responsibility to it.

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