Question : SECURITY TO RELIGIOUS PLACES

(a) whether the Government has received any inputs regarding terrorist threats to religious places including temples, mosques and churches in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has any proposal to provide security cover to such places of worship;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether any co-ordination committee of the Union and State- Governments has been constituted to review the security of important religious places;

(f) if so, the details thereof and the outcome thereon; and

(g) the steps taken to constitute a special force on the line of CISF for ensuring protection of such places?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN)

(a) to (d): Yes Madam. In view of the prevailing security scenario, threat inputs to places of religious importance continue to be received. The security arrangements for such places of religious importance are primarily being provided by the concerned State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations as “Law and Order” is essentially a State Subject. However, the threat input, being received are being promptly shared with the concerned State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations in order to avoid any untoward incident.

(e) & (f): No Madam. However, security audit of such places are carried out by Central security agencies periodically and the reports are shared with State/U.T. administrations regularly for appropriate action.

(g): There is no such proposal to constitute a special force on the line of CISF for ensuring protection of such places in this regard. However, in sensitive cases/occasions and with regard to the specific requests made by the State Governments, additional CPMF manpower is provided to the State Governments for strengthening of security of such places.