Agrawal, who currently serves as the Inspector General (IG) of the Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF) North East Sector in Shillong, has been selected for the position for a period of three years on a deputation basis or until further orders
Anurag Agarwal, a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the 1998 batch of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, has been appointed as the Joint Secretary (Security) of the Lok Sabha secretariat, as per a notification issued on Thursday. This move comes as a significant development, especially following a security breach at the Parliament complex on December 13, reminiscent of the 2001 terrorist attack.
Agarwal, who currently serves as the Inspector General (IG) of the Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF) North East Sector in Shillong, has been selected for the position for a period of three years on a deputation basis or until further orders, as stated in the official order from the Lok Sabha Secretariat.
The appointment of Agarwal fills the vacancy left by Raghubir Lal, the previous officer in the role, who moved on to his next assignment on November 2. The vacancy arose just before the security breach incident in December, prompting the Lok Sabha Secretariat to urgently request potential candidates from the Ministry of Home Affairs to fill the crucial position.
As the Joint Secretary (Security), Agarwal will lead the Parliament Security Service, an internal security unit responsible for safeguarding the Parliament premises. He will be supported by two directors of security from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, typically officers of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) rank from paramilitary forces. The Parliament Security Service oversees all paramilitary forces and Delhi Police personnel within the Parliament premises.
In response to the security breach incident, additional security measures have been implemented, including the deployment of over 150 Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel to reinforce security alongside the Parliament Security Service, CRPF, and Delhi Police. The breach led to the suspension of eight security personnel by the Lok Sabha Secretariat due to lapses in security protocols.
Anurag Agarwal’s appointment to this key position underscores the importance of reinforcing security measures at the Parliament complex, particularly in the wake of security concerns triggered by the recent breach incident.
