NSG brings its VVIPs under bomb threat security cover

The NSG, which guards some of the top 'Z+' category of protectees, has now brought its VVIPs under an enhanced security shield against explosives and bomb explosions while they travel across the country.

The elite VVIP protection force has decided to send an advance team of National Security Guard bomb experts before the VVIPs tour and the mobile commando squad travelling with the dignitaries will also have portable bomb detection kits with them.

The decision was taken in the aftermath of multiple low-intensity blasts that had rocked the rally venue of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in Patna last year.

Modi is a 'Z+' category protectee of the NSG and is guarded by close to 30 'black cat' commandos of the NSG at any given point of time.

Sources privy to the development told PTI that taking cue from the Patna blasts incident and in view of the forthcoming general elections where political leaders and Chief Ministers would be moving across the country, a new protocol has been devised.

According to the new procedure, the NSG would ensure that the local police deploys adequate measures to sanitise the rally or any "public congregation venue" which is supposed to be attended by the VVIP under its security umbrella.

The counter-terror force has also decided to arm its commando squads, travelling with the VVIP, with a portable "explosives detection kit" which can be deployed quickly to detect and test any kind of chemical explosives or bombs.

Till now, sources said, the NSG was adept at securing its protectee in case of a proximate attack on the VVIP.

"But after the explosions in Patna last year, no chances could be taken and hence the new protocols mandate protecting the VVIP from an attack carried out through bombs," the sources said.