CISF’S role will be only to control access to Punjab jails

CHANDIGARH : The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)’S role will be confined to ‘access control’ rather than providing security cover to entire jails in Punjab, senior officials said. A board of CISF officials is working out the modalities with the state government after touring and assessing the on-ground security system in the high-security and sensitive central jails in the state.it will be for the first time that the force will be manning jails since its inception in 1969 .

“The CISF will soon deploy two companies to guard high-security jails of Punjab as directed by the Union home ministry. The state government is apprehending attempts to revive extremism with a nexus between the radical elements and gangsters lodged in these jails, especially ahead of the 2019 polls”, said a CISF official.

A CISF official said while two CISF companies comprising 84 personnel each and headed by an Inspector-rank official will be deployed. But right now, the total number of jails where CISF will be deployed is yet to be finalised, they said. CISF officials would also conduct an assessment of the security system and current manpower deployed in these jails. The state government has to furnish accommodation among others things to the two CISF companies. “We also need to train our men for guarding nuclear and scientific installations and airports,” said the official.