CRPF to have dedicated VIP security wing

NEW DELHI: The CRPF, which currently protects former PM Manmohan Singh and all three members of the Gandhi family among others, will now have a dedicated VIP security wing made up of five battalions comprising around 5,000 personnel led by an inspector general-level officer.
The VIP security headquarters will be located at R K Puram here. The CRPF had also sought a separate range and training centre in its proposal sent to the home ministry earlier.
Sources said the home ministry has approved the proposal but asked the CRPF to set up the dedicated VIP security wing with its existing resources.
A senior CRPF officer told TOI that VIP security was earlier working under an IG who was primarily handling the intelligence wing. Now, an IG will separately head the VIP security wing. IG (VIP security) will exercise all requisite statutory and financial powers.
CRPF currently handles the personal security of 56 VVIPs, including Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra ever since they were stripped of their SPG cover last year.