New Delhi, June 25: Specially-protected underground shelters in parliament premises for VVIPs and installation of state-of-the-art security gadgets to prevent unauthorised entry to it are among several decisions taken today to ensure fool-proof security. The joint parliamentary committee of parliament's security, which met here under the chairmanship of Lok Sabha deputy speaker P M Sayeed, discussed at length possible threat of nuclear attacks and chemical and biological warfare.
It was decided that two underground shelter houses would be constructed and adequate safety devices installed so that in case of any threat, both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha besides the central hall will be sealed to protect it from radio active waves from "dirty" bombs, highly-placed sources said. The Prime Minister and other VVIPs, if present in parliament in case of any such eventuality, would be immediately escorted to the safe havens of the underground shelters, the sources said.
The entire security apparatus in parliament came under review following the December 13, 2001, attack on it by terrorists.

The terrorists, travelling by a white ambassador car with a beacon light used in VVIPs vehicles with a fake home ministry sticker, had entered the outer gate of parliament and driven near the main entrance. While four of them were killed in exchange of fire with security personnel, a fifth one was blown apart when detonated explosives wired on him got activated.

Bureau Report