Although IB had in 2008 advised enhanced security for Rajghat, it took the govt five years to make up its mind. After vacillating on the decision for more than six years, the government has

finally deployed armed security personnel to guard the memorial of the apostle of non-violence. An intelligence alert in 2008 had urged the government to enhance the level of security at the

‘Rajghat’, samadhi of the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi. Though government sources could not say whether there was any fresh threat perception, they said that as visiting the

‘Rajghat’ is an important itinerary for any foreign dignitary, the government felt it should take no chances. Keeping in view the rise in the threat perception and imminent terrorist

13, 2001. Armed security guards were allowed inside the Parliament building, as the attacked completely changed the security drill. On the banks of the Yamuna, the Rajghat was the only

memorial without armed security guards. All other samadhis nearby — Shakti Sthal (Indira Gandhi), Veer Bhumi ( Rajeev Gandhi), Vijay Sthal ( Lal Bahadur Shastri) — have armed security cover

since 2004. The Union home ministry recently, after top-level deliberations with the ministry of urban development and other government agencies, decided to deploy weapon carrying CISF men

to take over the ‘Rajghat’ security from August 1 based on some vital intelligence inputs. A squad of 24 Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) men and women have been deployed at Gandhi’s

samadhi and they are armed with AK-47 and INSAS rifles.  “However, only the commandos at the entry gate will carry weapons while those inside and near the ‘samadhi’ will not carry any

weapons but will be in uniform,” a senior official said. The affairs of the Samadhi are managed by an autonomous statutory body, known as Rajghat Samadhi Committee, created by an Act of

Parliament called as Rajghat Samadhi Act.