CISF head Arvind Ranjan wants more men to guard its ever-increasing list of VIPs

Ranjan with Vice-president Ansari at a CISF reception

FOR Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which had a modest beginning way back in 1969 mainly to provide security cover to Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), the VIP security has relatively been a new feature added to it. But the force currently headed by 1977 batch Kerala cadre IPS officer, Arvind Ranjan, lack of adequate manpower is turning out to be a constraint in providing VIP security. The VIPs who get security coverage from CISF include…
information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari, union steel minister Beni Prasad Verma, Punjab’s deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh and UP politician Amar Singh, just to name a few. On the eve of the forces’ 45th Raising Day on March 10, Ranjan spoke to reporters saying that he would request the home ministry to sanction more men for its special unit catering to VIP security. It has 1.12 lakh personnel now, according to its official website.
Ranjan had earlier headed National Security Guard (NSG), popularly called Black Cats, before he handed over the charge to Assam-Meghalaya cadre IPS officer of 1978 batch JN Choudhury. For the record, Choudhury had served intelligence Bureau (IB) for many years before becoming DGP of Assam.
Meanwhile, Ranjan had also appealed Delhi Metro commuters to keep some more time for security checks. The commuters also need to cooperate with CISF personnel so as to ensure a safe Delhi Metro ride, he said.