Self Defence Not Always the Best Defence

Infosys became the first private sector company to get armed protection from the Government, for a fee

Infosys became the first private sector company to get armed protection from the Government, for a fee. Around 100 Central Industrial Security Force personnel , specially trained to react to terrorist strikes, have been deployed at Infy’s Electronics City headquarters in Bangalore. The infotech firm has indicated it will pay Rs 3.6 crore a year, roughly Rs 1 lakh a day, for the special protection. The paramilitary personnel will provide perimeter security and patrol the campus—a first line of defence in case of a 26/11-style attack. Senior Infy board member Mohandas Pai says the threat perception had become real. “The law had to be amended for corporates to get paramilitary cover. In future, the entire Electronics City (a government-designated industrial area) and Infosys’ Mysore campus will also get CISF cover.” RK Mishra, CISF inspector general, says it’s the first time that his organisation is providing cover to the private sector. “The personnel have been carefully chosen and briefed to be gender sensitive, as more than 30 per cent of employees at Infosys are women. The gates will continue to be manned by Infosys’ security personnel. We will operate mainly as a quick-reaction team.’’ Now, will having a ring of paramilitary protection become a status symbol for India Inc?

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Anil B. Lulla