Spg security for rahul gandhi biography

Indian Protective Service Agency

Law enforcement agency

The Special Protection Group (SPG) is an agency under the Cabinet Secretariat of the Government of India, whose sole responsibility is protecting the prime minister of India and, in some cases, his or her family. It was formed in by an Act of the Parliament of India. The agency protects the prime minister at all times, both in India and abroad, as well as the prime minister's immediate family members. Family members, however, may decline security.

Previously, the SPG's mandate included protecting the prime minister's "parents, wife [sic] and children" resident anywhere in India during their term of office and for five years after leaving office. However, the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Act, reduced such mandate. Presently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the only SPG protectee.

History

Before , the security of the prime minister at their official residence was the responsibility of the Special Security District of the Delhi Police, overseen by an officer of the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP). This model was adopted from the United Kingdom, where the prime minister of the United Kingdom is protected by Lo

How are security levels decided?

The Union Home Ministry takes this call after evaluating the inputs from all the intelligence agencies such as the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

However, since none of the intelligence agencies is accountable to any external statutory body, barring internal oversight by ministries of Home and Foreign Affairs, the issue of security cover is open to manipulation.

What are the various levels of protection?

There are largely six types of security covers: X, Y, Y plus, Z, Z plus and SPG. While SPG is meant only for the PM and his immediate family, other categories can be provided to anyone about whom the Centre or state governments have inputs about facing a threat.

The X category on an average entails just one gunman protecting the individual; Y has one gunman for mobile security and one (plus four on rotation) for static security; Y plus has two policemen on rotation for security and one (plus four on rotation) for residence security; Z has six gunmen for mobile security and two (plus eight) for residence security; Z plus has 10 security personnel for mobile security and two (plus eight) for residence security.

There are various kinds of covers within these levels as well.

Who are the SPG? Whom do they protect?

The SPG is an elite force, specifically raised for the protection of the country&#;s Prime Minister, former PMs and their immediate family. The force is currently 3, strong. If the Gandhis lose the SPG cover, PM Modi will be the only one under the SPG&#;s protection.

The SPG is highly trained in physical efficiency, marksmanship, combat and proximate protection tactics and is assisted by all central and state agencies to ensure foolproof security. SPG Special Agents assigned to the PM security detail wear black, Western-style formal business suits, with sunglasses,

The decision to remove the SPG security to the family of members of Rajiv Gandhi, the former prime minister who was assassinated in May , was taken after a security review, a senior home ministry official said on condition of anonymity. “The threat perception of each of those protected by the SPG is reviewed every year,” he added.

With the move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will become the only person currently protected by SPG.

The decision triggered strong reactions from Congress leaders, and prompted the party’s workers to stage a protest outside Union home minister Amit Shah’s residence.

A third official, who did not wish to be named, said the Gandhi family’s SPG cover was getting extended by the central government annually for the past 28 years. After this year’s review, it was decided to replace the SPG security with Z-plus security for the Gandhi family, the official said.

In addition to the Z-plus security, they will have the facilities of all-India Advanced Security Liaison (ASL), bullet-proof cars and jammers, and stringent anti-sabotage measures, he added.

In a way, there are no changes in security measures, only the agency is changed, the third official said, adding that it was advised that since the SPG comes to know of the PM’s movements and other sensitive information, it should be used only for the PM’s protection.

The elite force was set up to provide security to PMs and then former PMs. The rules were later amended to provide SPG cover to the families of former PM Rajiv Gandhi’s family was provided security by the force in October , months after he was assas

Levels of security details provided to individuals in India

In India, security details are provided to some high-risk individuals by the police and local government. Depending on the threat perception to the person, the category is divided into six tiers: SPG, Z+ (highest level), Z, Y+, Y and X. Individuals under this security blanket include (but are not limited to) the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Supreme Court and High Court Judges, Service Chiefs of Indian Armed Forces, Governors of State, Chief Ministers and Cabinet Ministers, actors and other VIPs:

• SPG is an elite force whose details are classified and only provided to the Prime Minister of India.
• Z+ (ASL) category - Z+ cover with Advanced Security Liaison.
• Z+ category is a security detail of 36 personnel, including 10+ CRPF commandos and police personnel.
• Z category is a security detail of 22 personnel, including CAPFs commandos and police personnel.
• Y+ category is a security detail of 11 personnel, including commandos and police personnel.
• Y category is a security detail of 8 personnel, including 1 or 2 commandos and police personnel.
• X category is a security detail of 2 personnel, with no commandos but only armed police personnel.

In a significant shift in VIP security arrangements, the Union Government has decided to withdraw the National Security Guard (NSG), also known as "black cat commandos," from VIP security duties. This decision aims to refocus the NSG on its core counter-terrorism role.

The Z+ level of security is now provided by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) commandos or other Central Armed Police Forces such as the ITBP, CISF, or the respective State Police. They are armed with Heckler & Koch MP5 sub-machine guns and modern communication equipment, and each member of the team is adept in martial arts and unarmed combat skills. Currentl