PM’s Punjab security breach: Lessons for SPG – The elite protection force should have vetoed the road journey through sensitive areas

he Special Protection Group (SPG), whose sole mission and responsibility is the protection of the Prime Minister of India, has been in the news recently for the lapse in PM’s security in Punjab on January 5. The Supreme Court has set up a five-member panel to probe the security breach. The matter rightly raises several questions that need to be answered. The SPG was created in 1985 as a specialised armed force of the Union to provide ‘undivided attention’ to the safety and security of the PM.

Rigorous training

SPG officers are put through an exceedingly demanding training regimen to prepare and maintain a workforce that is physically tough and mentally alert while also being mature, suave and courteous in their dealings. With this in view, SPG follows a rare training doctrine combining attention to both brawn and brain. Training to function under extreme conditions of physical and mental stress, playing out mock attacks, responding in split seconds, providing body cover by coming between the bullet and the protectee and defensive driving techniques to escape from stoppages and ambushes are practised day in and day out.

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