THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Considering the demand and profitability of the State Industrial Security Force (SISF), the state government has sanctioned 345 more posts to provide security to about ten more institutions including Technopark. SISF, formed under the state police a couple of years back to provide security to public and private institutions, has already been providing security to 27 agencies, including the Kochi Metro and there has been a demand from more agencies. Currently, it has 580 personnel and it would reach 925 with the sanctioning of 345 more posts. Fresh recruits to police battalions are inducted to SISF so as to ensure the presence of youngsters. All SISF personnel are armed.
The new venture has also been earning good revenue for the state exchequer. During the nine month period from April to December 2016, SISF earned a profit of Rs. 6.41 crore, Home Department sources said. Apart from Technopark, the other institutions for which SISF will soon provide security cover are Indian Rare Earths, Thenmala Dam, Union Bank Disaster Recovery Site, various branches of Union Bank and KSEB dispatch centre in Kochi. SISF’s service at Infopark and Reserve Bank will be enhanced. Though the government also sanctioned SISF service to the UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram, it is stuck with certain formalities, said sources.
Activities of SISF personnel deployed at any institutions in a district is monitored by the district police chief concerned.The agencies that SISF was already providing security to included many public sector undertakings like Malabar Cements and Sea Plane’s waterdromes and over a dozen private and nationalised banks, said SISF chief security officer Vinayakumar K S. SISF personnel are mainly engaged for activities involving security checks. There are officers of the rank of inspector, sub-inspector, head constable and police constable in SISF. The agencies seeking SISF’s service will be charged on the basis of the rank and number of personnel deployed at each premises. Unwin J Antony is the present commandant of SISF.
