For the first time and just before the 67th Independence Day, the Government has deployed armed security personnel to guard Rajghat — the memorial of the father of the nation and apostle of non-violence Mahatma Gandhi, in the National Capital.
"A squad of 24 CISF men and women have been deployed at Gandhi's Samadhi. However, only the commandos at the entry gate will carry weapons, while those inside and near the Samadhi will not carry any weapons but will be in uniform," a senior official said. The issue of deploying armed guards at the venue on the banks of the Yamuna, thronged by VVIPs and common people round the year, was kept aside since the last six years considering Gandhi's principles of non-violence and the emotions attached in this context.
All other nine memorials in the vicinity of Rajghat like Shakti Sthal memorial of Indira Gandhi, Veer Bhumi that of Rajeev Gandhi and Vijay Sthal of lal Bahadur Shastri, among the others, have been under armed security cover ever since 2004. Based on some vital intelligence inputs, the Union Home Ministry recently, after top-level deliberations with the Ministry of Urban Development and other government agencies, decided to deploy weapon carrying Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) men to take over the Rajghat security from August 1 onwards.
Sources added that the decision was prompted by the recent bombing incidents in Bihar's Bodh Gaya where crude explosives were placed inside the monastery which injured three monks on July 7.According to the security blueprint for the Mahatma's Samadhi, the CISF will regulate access to the venue along with private security guards, while a small team of uniformed personnel of the force will keep a watch around the black marble Samadhi area. The troopers have been deployed there on the 'internal security duty pattern' with sophisticated firearms like AK-47 and INSAS rifles. The Government, in 2004, had handed over the security of all the nine samadhis in Delhi to the CISF.
These comprise of Rajghat, Shanti Van, Vijay Ghat, Shakti Sthal, Vir Bhumi, Ekta Sthal, Kisan Ghat, Samta Sthal and Sangharsh Sthal. Rajghat, however, was not placed under armed security since then. Gandhi was cremated at this spot, present day Ring road near ITO chowk, after his assassination in 1948. The affairs of the Samadhi are managed by an autonomous statutory body, known as Rajghat Samadhi Committee, created by an Act of Parliament called the Rajghat Samadhi Act, 1951.