📷 Image Credits: News18
The recent incident involving Kangana Ranaut being allegedly slapped by a CISF official at Chandigarh airport has raised questions about the security arrangements for VVIPs in India. Ranaut, who was elected as a BJP MP from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi, enjoys Y-plus security cover provided by the Central government. This level of security includes eight to eleven personnel, including commandos, with five guards at her residence and two personal security officers accompanying her at all times.
The incident at the airport has sparked discussions about the protocols in place for protecting VIPs and VVIPs. Security arrangements for individuals like political personalities are laid out in the ‘Yellow Book’, which specifies the measures to be taken after threat assessment by security agencies. State governments also play a role in providing security to MPs based on their own criteria.
The security system in India was established in response to the Naxalism threat in the 1960s and was formalized with the formation of the Special Protection Group (SPG) in 1985 after the assassination of Indira Gandhi. The SPG provides security cover to the Prime Minister and their immediate family members for a period of five years after the end of their tenure.
In addition to the SPG, other categories of VIP security cover in India include Z+, Z, Y, and X, each offering varying levels of protection based on the threat perception to the individual. The security framework includes armed guards, personal security officers, bulletproof vehicles, and other security measures depending on the category.
The incident involving Kangana Ranaut sheds light on the complexities of VIP security in India and the need for a comprehensive approach to ensuring the safety of VVIPs. As the debate continues on the effectiveness of security arrangements, it is essential to re-evaluate the protocols and guidelines to address evolving security challenges.