CISF takes over security of UIDAI centre in Delhi

An armed squad of CISF commandos on Monday took over the full security duties at the vital UIDAI centre, the repository of the Aadhaar data, here to protect it against a terror strike or any other threat, an official said.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) had been guarding the facility as a temporary duty but the government has now regularised the deployment and granted it the status of a full unit under protection.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) centre is located at Jeevan Bharti building in Connaught Place area.

"A total of 60 CISF personnel have been tasked to guard the facility. The squad will be led by an Assistant Commandant-rank officer," said the force's spokesperson, Assistant Inspector General Hemendra Singh.

He said the the security of the data centre is "of utmost importance as the establishment is very sensitive and confidential biometric and personal information of the residents of India are stored and maintained at this centre".

"Various applications for welfare schemes of state and central government agencies and departments, banks, among others, are also stored at this centre. IT (information technology) operations are a crucial aspect to run UIDAI operations.

"In view of various security threats, the UIDAI centre in Delhi has come under the security cover of the force," Singh said.

The CISF will provide round-the-clock armed security cover to the facility and special vehicle-borne quick reaction teams of commandos will be stationed at vantage points to respond in case of an attack or any attempt at sabotage.

The force will oversee the overall entry and exit at the facility, a job that will be done by other security staff hired by the UIDAI.

With this induction, total units under CISF security cover raised to 344 as on date, the official said.

In April, a squad of 159 personnel took over the security of the UIDAI data centre located at Manesar in Haryana's Gurugram district. A squad of 80 personnel of the force had in December last year also taken over the security of the UIDAI data centre in Bengaluru.

UIDAI is an attachment office under Planning Commission of India, created in 2006 to develop and implement the necessary institutional, technical and legal infrastructure to issue unique identify numbers of Indian residents that is popularly known as Aadhaar.

--IANS

rak/vd