CRPF revises SOP for security of VVIPs visiting West Bengal, Assam

NEW DELHI: Ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in several states including West Bengal and Assam, the Central Reserve Police Force said it has revised its standard operating procedure (SOP) for VVIP security during their visits to states.

BJP president JP Nadda's convoy had come under attack in West Bengal last month, leading to a war of words between the Centre and the state government. Nadda has Z-category protection, which is provided by the CRPF.

The central paramilitary force currently provides security to 62 VVIPs including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, home minister Amit Shah, Congress working president Sonia Gandhi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The latest to join the list are Suvendu Adhikari and Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut.


The CRPF is responsible for providing close protection to the VVIPs, director-general AP Maheshwari said. “…we have started using better surveillance and upgraded technology. If required, we can undertake an armed response or create a hurdle to thwart any attacks,” he said.

The home ministry has recently reviewed the SOPs for VVIPs visiting election-bound states. Meanwhile, the Election Commission has also held a meeting with the ministry over the availability of central security forces for the upcoming polls.

In Jammu & Kashmir, the CRPF along with the army and state police was responsible for killing 215 terrorists and arresting another 251 last year, including Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo, Maheshwari said.

He said the CRPF had seized as many as 460 improvised explosive devices in 2020, including 41 from Kashmir. It was engaged in the recently concluded district development council elections in J&K, he said.

The central force has got approval from the home ministry to provide Rs 10 lakh to the parents of a martyred jawan under the Bharat Ke Veer Trust, he said. While the trust maintained by the ministry provides a minimum financial assistance of Rs 1 crore to the family members of jawans killed in the line of duty, the additional relief was approved for the parents since most of the benefits go to other family members, according to the CRPF.