UP DGP told to prepare road map for raising special force within three days

The Uttar Pradesh Director-General of Police has been told to prepare a road map for forming the Uttar Pradesh Special Security Force (SSF) within three days. The state government had issued a notification around a fortnight back on the proposed SSF.

The government is believed to be working on building a force on the lines of the Central Industrial Security Force. The SSF is supposed to be responsible for security of vital government and private buildings, and industrial establishments.

Additional Chief Secretary Awanish Kumar Awasthi said the DGP was sent a copy of the Uttar Pradesh Special Security Force (UPSSF) Act, 2020, on Friday and directed to ensure effective working of the force.

“The UPSSF has got the nod from the DGP. This force will be deployed at places such as Metro rail, airports, industrial institutions, courts, religious places, banks and other financial institutions. The headquarters will be in Lucknow, and an ADG-level officer will head the force. Initially, five battalions will be formed,” said Awasthi.

Private firms can also hire the services of the force at a fixed cost with the DGP’s approval.

According to the UPSSF Act, 2020, the force will not require a magistrate’s order or warrants to make an arrest or conduct searches. Its powers will be governed by rules made by the state government.

Awasthi said 9,919 SSF personnel would be deployed within three months in the first phase, following which 1,913 more posts will be created.

Related news: Police arrest accused in 3-yr-old girl’s rape, murder at UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri

The new force would not only provide effective security to important places, it would also help the administration in utilizing PAC (Provincial Armed Constabulary) and local police force for better maintenance of law and order and crime control,” Awasthi had said, adding it would also help in creating more employment opportunities.

A government release issued a few days back said SSF will have five battalions in the first phase, for which premises of PAC will be used, and appointments of personnel and officials will be based on the given rules and guidelines.

Since there was no provision for such a security force in the annual budget for the current financial year, the funds for UPSSFF would be allocated in the supplementary demands for grants, and provisions would be made in the 2021-2022 annual budget, it added.

Related news: Police officer suspended for alleged role in Vikas Dubey case, seeks protection