Security guidelines based on post Pathankot report issued

The Defence Ministry on Thursday said it has issued guidelines for security of defence installations after taking into consideration a report of a committee that was constituted post-Pathankot attack.

After the Pathankot attack, the Defence Ministry had constituted a committee under former Vice Chief of Army Lt. Gen. Philip Campose (retired).

In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said the recommendations of the committee included installation of technology-based security infrastructure; positioning of well-trained, armed and equipped 'Quick Reaction Teams' (QRTs) at high-threat and high-priority military bases; and conduct of periodic security audits, among other suggestions.

"Based on the recommendations of the committee and after consultation with the Services Headquarters, Guidelines for Security of Defence Installations have been issued to the Services Headquarters," Bhamre said.

The response comes a week after a parliamentary panel on Defence Ministry rapped government for not taking any "concrete measures" following terror attacks like Uri and Pathakot.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, headed by Maj. Gen. B.C. Khanduri (retired), in an earlier report had said that hightened security measures needed to be taken post-Pathankot terror attack.

The government, in an action-taken report sent to the panel, said the report by a committee under Campose, which was submitted on May 20, 2016, was being examined "in consultation with all stakeholders".

The panel had said it was "disturbed" to note the "apparent lack of sincerity" on the part of the Defence Ministry and desired that the situation should improve.

Terrorists attacked the Pathankot Air Force Station, part of the Western Air Command of the Indian Air Force on January 2, 2016. Seven security personnel and one civilian were killed and 37 security personnel and one civilian were injured. All the four terrorists, who were from Pakistan, were gunned down.

On September 18, 2016, four heavily armed terrorists attacked an Army camp near the Uri town in Jammu and Kashmir. A total of 19 Army personnel were killed in the incident.

--IANS

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