With ‘bags’ full of security woes, CISF reviews vigil

CISF chief visits Metro stations to check preparedness after HT sting.

Three days after Hindustan Times punched holes in the claims of foolproof security in the Delhi NCR, including near Metro stations, the Director General of Central industrial Security Force (CISF) reviewed the arrangements at various Metro stations. The CISF is responsible for the security at Metro stations.

Throughout the past week, a team of Hindustan Times reporters carried out a safety audit at various crowded public places in the Capital, Gurgaon and Noida.

HT Image

It found that it was easy to drop a bag and leave it unattended without the security personnel, including those from the police, CISF and private agencies, or members of public, taking notice. The HT reporters left as many as 10 bags at different spots across Delhi NCR and caught both the security agencies and general public napping. The time taken to spot the bags by seucritymen was abysmal.

Apart from checking security preparedness at several spots near Metro infrastructure, the HT Team had a left a bag at the concourse of Lajpat Nagar Metro station, which receives at daily footfall of 20,000. The bag was noticed by a CISF security guard but only after 35 minutes.

Rajiv (who goes by single name), DG of CISF, visited New Delhi, Kashmere Gate, and Shastri Park Metro stations of the Delhi Metro and Shivaji Stadium and New Delhi stations on the Airport Express Line. "He visited the operational control room of the DMRC and reviewed functioning at CISF control room at Shastri Park. He also took stock of the training infrastructure, especially X-ray simulator training, being imparted to CISF personnel," a CISF spokesperson said.

The CISF DG also inaugurated a gymnasium and laid the foundation stone for a Dog Kennel annexure at Shastri Park CISF Complex. "He discussed the security and manpower issues pertaining to the proposed Phase-III with CISF and DMRC officials," the spokesperson added.

The CISF chief also reviewed arrangements for 250 women constables, who have been recently deployed on the Metro network to check women passengers. Sources said the top brass of CISF was concerned after HT exposed the chinks in metro and airport security where the Central force stands guard.

Senior CISF officers had also visited the airport, earlier this week, and had asked the men posted there to plug the loopholes in security.

In the last decade, Delhi has seen 11 terror attacks that have left 90 people dead and more than 300 injured. The Capital is perpetually on a heightened alert, with 80,000 Delhi Police personnel keeping a tight vigil.