Special commando-trained CRPF squad to guard Parliament

Parliament House complex will soon be guarded by a special commando-trained squad of CRPF which will be armed with modern weapons and communication gadgets.

The elite squad will be called the Parliament Duty Group (PDG) and this is the first time that the historic building will have a system of "uniform armed protection" for itself, a CRPF officer said.

The Union Home Ministry had recently approved the creation of the special unit to guard the complex which comprises main Parliament House, reception office building, Sansadiya Gyanpeeth (Parliament library building) and Parliament House Annexe.

The paramilitary unit-- with 1,540 personnel including women troopers-- will comprise those who have undertaken not only commando and tactics training but are also adept to deal with nuclear and bio-chemical emergencies at the complex which was attacked by terrorists in 2001.

The unit, which will be in place soon, will function under the operational command of the Additional Secretary (Security) of Parliament House with the overall incharge being the Director General of CRPF.

"The new unit will act as a cohesive unit for any exigency at the Parliament House complex. It will have sophisticated arms like Glock pistols and sniper rifles and vehicles to move in the complex," the official said.

The PDG will also coordinate with personnel of the Parliamentary security unit, Delhi Police and regular Central Reserve Police Force, guarding the periphery and approach routes to Parliament House.