Thursday, March 16 2006 16:14 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: A Special Duty Group (SDG) is being created in the Central Industrial Security Force to provide protection to threatened dignitaries and also for evacuation of VIPs in case of terrorist attack, annual Union Home Ministry report said.

"As per the recommendations of the Group of Ministers (GoM) that a Special Duty Group (SDG) should be created in the CISF for VIP security, CISF is being trained for the purpose of providing physical protection of a high degree to threatened dignitaries or individuals.

"Evacuation of the protected persons, counter-terrorist assaults, static as well as mobile security to the protected persons," will also be provided by the SDG, the report for 2005-06 said.

The state governments are also constantly sensitised by the Union Home Ministry about the security issues concerning VIP security and their movements, the report said.

The Ministry has also emphasised that the state police as well as Central security agencies use the latest technology in VIP security like bullet-proof and mine-proof vehicles, jammers, mine detectors, bullet resistant vests and bullet proof jackets, whenever needed, the report said.

The report said the CISF has so far been deployed in 99 "A" category vital installations and 48 out of the 64 airports in the country.

A special security scheme for the Taj Mahal at Agra has been prepared in consultation with the Central security agencies and the government of Uttar Pradesh as per the direction of the Supreme Court and was being implemented by the concerned agencies.