Govt okays CISF security to Reliance, Infosys, Wipro

NEW DELHI: The Government has cleared the proposal for providing CISF security to the vital Reliance refinery in Gujarat and some other important Information Technology establishments like Infosys and Wipro in Bangalore.

The clearance from the Union Home Ministry came following intelligence inputs suggesting that Pakistan-based terrorists might try to target these installations launching a surprise attack similar to the Mumbai attack last year.

The ministry has also given the nod for the security cover to IT giants Infosys and Wipro and companies located in Electronic city of Bangalore which is on the radar of terror groups operating on the country, a home ministry official said.

The Centre has enlarged the role of CISF from guarding government establishment to providing security to installations in the private sector in the wake of the 26/11 attack.

Jamnagar refinery of Reliance is close to Indo-Pak border in Gujarat which makes it vulnerable to any terrorist attack from the neighbouring country, the official said.

"The security to these organisations will be provided as they have a threat perception and figure in the priority sector," a CISF spokesperson said.

The Electronic City in Bangalore houses more than 100 private companies dealing in the Information Technology and electronics like Hewlett-Packard, Siemens and Satyam and they emerged as a potential target following the attack on Indian Institute of Science in November 2005.

"The security cover would be extended soon," the spokesperson said.

With this decision, the CISF personnel would be deployed to guard these private installations against a payment for getting the security cover.

The demand for providing security net to private companies was felt after the Mumbai terror attack prompting the government on January two to promulgate an Ordinance enabling the private sector to avail itself of CISF cover to guard against terror attacks on industrial houses.

A Bill was later passed by Parliament during the Budget Session. At least 50 corporate houses, including Reliance, Tata, Oberoi and Infosys, had approached the government after the Mumbai carnage seeking CISF security cover in their installations.