How safe is Parliament?

Security experts concerned as the mechanism is the first line of defence against possible terror attacks

Security experts concerned as the mechanism is the first line of defence against possible terror attacks

At 8 am on Thursday morning, technical staff of the security system installed at Parliament verified it and gave clearance. About an hour later, however, a scooter while entering the premises accidentally hit a flap barrier, but the system, equipped with all bells and whistles available in the market, remained silent.

Mind the gap: Flap barriers like these are also installed at Metro stations.

Technically, when the scooter hit the barrier, a siren was supposed to go off, to alert the Quick Reaction Team (QRT) stationed nearby and Parliament Security Staff. Also, tyre barriers were supposed to emerge from the ground. But nothing happened.

Sources in the Parliament security told MiD DAY that at about 9.30 am, the scooter - which was authorised to enter Parliament - made its way through the Talkatora Road, TKR-I entrance. As the two-wheeler accidentally hit the flap barrier, it unhooked from its loop. Technically, a siren should have alerted the security at the Parliament then and there, but the system refused to function. As a result, security officials monitoring the CCTV in the office adjacent to the flap barrier came out a few minutes later and as the scooterist was an official of the Parliament, he was allowed inside.

But, later senior officers pondered over the issue and an official complaint was lodged at the control room, a copy of which was sent to senior Parliament security officials. "The system is meant to function at the time when an intruder tries to enter Parliament forcibly. It was installed after the Parliament attack incident in 2001 and was updated recently in the wake of US President Barack Obama's visit. However, today it didn't work when such a situation did come about, though accidentally," a senior security official stated.

Sources said that the system is called CCS - Central Command System - that is connected to an LCS - Local Command System. According to the mechanism if a flap barrier unhooks from its loop and falls down, it would alert everyone followed by the security drill.

"The technical team inspects all the systems on a daily basis and the flap barriers are checked in the morning to make sure they are working properly and they did it today also, but it didn't work when actually needed," sources said.

The sources further said that as far as electricity front is concerned, the system is backed with a UPS on a 24-hour basis and if there is a power failure an automatic generator will take over. Considering this fact, it seems that the fault was technical.

Sources said that a report has been sought from the technical department by the senior officers. Based on it Parliament security will consider taking up the matter with company that has provided the system.
When a joint director level officer was contacted he refused to comment and said: "I am not supposed to tell you everything."u00a0

The big visit

Agencies from India and the US have worked out security modalities for the maiden visit of President Barack Obama to the Capital in the first week of November.
Proximity security to Obama will be provided by his guards while the other cordons will be manned by personnel from Delhi Police and paramilitary forces. Sharpshooters are expected to be deployed on buildings along the routes, which Obama will take to reach his destinations.
Obama is expected to reach the Capital on November 7 and is likely to visit Raj Ghat next day to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi, whom he considers an inspiration to all Americans.

Terror attack

On 13 December 2001, five gunmen infiltrated the Parliament House in a car with Home Ministry and parliament labels. While both the RS and LS had been adjourned forty minutes prior to the incident, many MPs and government officials such as Home Minister LK Advani and Minister of State (Defence) Harin Pathak were believed to have still been inside the building at that time.
The gunmen slammed their vehicle into the car of the Vice-President Krishan Kant (who was in the building at the time), got out, and began firing their weapons. Five policemen, a Parliament security guard, and a gardener were killed, and 18 others were injured.

Security breaches at Parliament

>> On October 12, 2010, at about 6.20 pm, a man entered parliament through TKR-II entrance and reached room number 122. However, when it was pointed out by the CCTV monitoring staff, the man was questioned but later let off as a central cabinet minister intervened.
>> On March 18, 2010, a woman had entered parliament without a valid pass, when the session was in progress and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other MPs were inside. The woman had entered through gate number 8 of Parliament House. She was later identified as one Anita. She had come to meet an official inside Parliament, though security officials refused to divulge more details about her and the official she had come to meet.u00a0
>>u00a0On January 2 and 4, 2009, a vehicle bearing registration number DL 6C J 2665 -- which was not entitled to enter parliament -- was allowed inside. Later, when the breach was pointed out the security staff was suspended.u00a0
>> On August 7, 2009, the then additional director, RS Pawar, managed to enter the lobbies 4,5,6,7 of parliament along with his spouse - where even the PM is not allowed to go with his spouse -- which was later pointed out from the CCTV footage.u00a0 That additional director has now been promoted.