Bullet-proof anti-terrorist vehicle deployed for Parliament security

New Delhi: An armoured 360-degrees revolving Anti-Terrorist Vehicle has been deployed in the Parliament complex for securing it against terrorist attack-like incidents.

Brought out on special anti-ballistic configuration approved by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the two-seater vehicle has been put on "trial" to test its efficacy in combating a terrorist or suicide attack, officials said.

The 4.5-tonne military camouflage vehicle, moving on tank-like tyres has a special armour plating which can resist close firing from any modern assault rifle and grenades and provides ample opportunity to armed commandos to take precise aim from the firing ports without getting hit.

It also has enough space for commandos to stock their weapons and ammunition, the officials said.

The ATV, officials said, has been handed over for trial to the elite security wing of Central Reserve Police Force or CRPF securing the complex under its Parliament Duty Group charter and will be seen rolling in and out during the budget session commencing on Tuesday.

The vehicle, due to its sheer small size has the capability to rotate 360-degrees on a stationary mounted platform, and has been developed by a Jaipur-based firm on the directions of the Defence Research Development Organisation or DRDO.

The vehicle can attain a maximum speed limit of 25 km per hour and is the first of its kind in the small variants of bullet proof vehicles that are required to operate in large built up areas like Parliament, they said.

The single ATV, put on trial recently, sports a flashy police beacon and has an overall armour, including bulletproof glasses, to protect the driver.

Officials said such a vehicle was required by special strike teams of CRPF keeping in view the threat perception to the Parliament which had come under a terrorist attack in 2001.