Bulletproof offices, 300 top security personnel turn Secretariat into fortress

Hyderabad: The newly-inaugurated Secretariat building has more than a magnificent facade and a grand entrance. It has stringent security measures that involve bulletproof windows and doors for the Chief Minister’s office, located on the sixth floor.

With 300-odd armed forces of the Telangana State Special Police (TSSP) deployed on the premises, the building is amply fortified to thwart any untoward incident. The Hyderabad police has posting law and order, traffic, TSSP, intelligence security wing and the anti-terrorist Octopus team personnel.

Additional director-general of police, TSSP, Swati Lakra, said that the Octopus teams comprise elite members from wings that combat terrorism activities and they have been deployed at the Secretariat as a precautionary measure.

“The TSSP forces, who possess arms, have been trained well as per the situation meeting in emergencies. As many as 300 staff have been deployed and 100 more staff, who are undergoing training, will start their duty at the Secretariat shortly,” Lakra said.

Previously, the Special Protection Force (SPF) used to guard the Secretariat, under the vigilance of a dedicated monitoring authority, but for the new building, the police have taken measures to provide security through different wings.

The Hyderabad police commissioner is responsible for monitoring security.

Sources said that a special conference hall, dinner rooms, cabinet meeting rooms, and guest rooms to accommodate VVIPs have also been constructed with bulletproof windows and doors on the sixth floor. Further, the intelligence personnel also peruse the list of persons scheduled to meet the Chief Minister.

Sources said that the TSSP forces have been trained in weapon use, tactical exercise, regular practice of weapons and meeting emergencies, on par with intelligence security teams and Octopus teams.