<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who faces unprecedented threats to his life, is believed to have directed the Special Protection Group (SPG) to be away from “hearing distance” even as it guards him.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The instructions are believed to have been given to avoid a leak of Modi’s confidential conversations, said government sources. A “close protection team” of SPG, headed by a Deputy Inspector General rank officer, shadows the prime minister to provide him the innermost ring of protection.<br /><br />The move may result in induction of more security personnel into the close protection team which, as of now, has about six to eight highly-trained and armed commandoes drawn from different paramilitary forces, government sources said.<br /><br />The idea to encircle the protectee germinates from the VVIP protection strategy that a human shield of guards can withstand a close attack whether it comes in the form of a physical assault or gun shots. <br /><br />Security officials said Modi’s concerns may not be out of place as an IPS officer on deputation to the SPG was sent back to his parent cadre some years ago after it emerged that he was attentively listening to a former prime minister’s talk while on duty and passing the information to others.<br /><br />The SPG, raised after Indira Gandhi’s assassination in 1984 to act as a cover to the prime minister and his immediate family members, throws security layer in ring formats at his office-cum-residence at 7 Race Course Road.<br /><br /> When the prime minister is on the move, an armed commando sits in the front seat of his armoured BMW black car while other SPG personnel in vehicles in his cavalcade lend him all-round safety. During public functions, his venues are also sanitised and a sterile zone is created with the help of local police.<br /><br />It’s only when the prime minister is in his official room and residence that the guards do not protect him closely.<br /><br />Modi’s security has been heightened to a level which no other prime minister has enjoyed, given the threat perception from terrorists. <br /></p>
<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who faces unprecedented threats to his life, is believed to have directed the Special Protection Group (SPG) to be away from “hearing distance” even as it guards him.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The instructions are believed to have been given to avoid a leak of Modi’s confidential conversations, said government sources. A “close protection team” of SPG, headed by a Deputy Inspector General rank officer, shadows the prime minister to provide him the innermost ring of protection.<br /><br />The move may result in induction of more security personnel into the close protection team which, as of now, has about six to eight highly-trained and armed commandoes drawn from different paramilitary forces, government sources said.<br /><br />The idea to encircle the protectee germinates from the VVIP protection strategy that a human shield of guards can withstand a close attack whether it comes in the form of a physical assault or gun shots. <br /><br />Security officials said Modi’s concerns may not be out of place as an IPS officer on deputation to the SPG was sent back to his parent cadre some years ago after it emerged that he was attentively listening to a former prime minister’s talk while on duty and passing the information to others.<br /><br />The SPG, raised after Indira Gandhi’s assassination in 1984 to act as a cover to the prime minister and his immediate family members, throws security layer in ring formats at his office-cum-residence at 7 Race Course Road.<br /><br /> When the prime minister is on the move, an armed commando sits in the front seat of his armoured BMW black car while other SPG personnel in vehicles in his cavalcade lend him all-round safety. During public functions, his venues are also sanitised and a sterile zone is created with the help of local police.<br /><br />It’s only when the prime minister is in his official room and residence that the guards do not protect him closely.<br /><br />Modi’s security has been heightened to a level which no other prime minister has enjoyed, given the threat perception from terrorists. <br /></p>
