The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Jammu is poised to become the first hospital in India to receive security coverage from an armed contingent of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). This significant development stems from the institution’s strategically sensitive location, situated in close proximity to the India-Pakistan international border. Officials involved in the decision-making process highlighted the unique security considerations for the sprawling 226.84-acre hospital and medical college complex.
The AIIMS Jammu campus is located in the Vijaypur area of Samba district, Jammu and Kashmir, along the vital Srinagar-Jammu National Highway-44. Its proximity to the India-Pakistan International Border, just a few kilometers away, has prompted the central government to plan for enhanced security measures. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the state-of-the-art medical facility in February 2024, underscoring its national importance.
Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that security establishment sources have indicated that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is planning to deploy the CISF to provide armed security cover to the AIIMS-Jammu facility. This move would mark a departure from the MHA’s long-standing policy of generally resisting the deployment of armed personnel at hospitals, a stance that was reinforced following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which saw healthcare facilities targeted by terrorists. The sources further elaborated that a comprehensive security survey and a manpower estimation exercise are currently underway to facilitate the deployment.
Prior to this decision, numerous hospitals across the country, both in the government and private sectors, had submitted requests for CISF security cover for their campuses in the aftermath of the 2008 attacks. However, these proposals were reportedly turned down after thorough security assessments that considered potential threats to such institutions and the limited manpower available within the CISF. The high footfall experienced by many medical facilities also contributed to these earlier rejections.
In a notable exception, CISF personnel were temporarily deployed at the R G Kar Hospital premises in Kolkata following a Supreme Court directive in August 2024. This temporary deployment was a direct response to a grave incident involving the rape and murder of a doctor within the hospital premises, highlighting the increasing security concerns faced by healthcare professionals and institutions. The planned deployment at AIIMS-Jammu, however, is expected to be a permanent arrangement for the CISF, distinguishing it from the temporary measure in Kolkata.
The CISF, a central paramilitary force, is primarily responsible for guarding vital installations across various sectors, including space, nuclear, and power. Its mandate is set to expand further with potential deployments in other critical infrastructure areas. The force is also slated for deployment in the security of the Kolkata Metro. Currently, the 58 stations of the Kolkata Metro, spanning 74 kilometers, are under the protection of the Railway Protection Force (RPF). If sanctioned, this would make the Kolkata Metro the second metro rail network in India, after the Delhi Metro, to be brought under CISF security cover.
Additionally, the paramilitary force is expected to be deployed to secure the Donyi Polo Airport, the sole civil airport in Arunachal Pradesh, located at Hollongi in the Papum Pare district. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu recently alluded to this impending deployment in a social media post, signaling a broader strategy to enhance security at key national assets. The decision to provide CISF cover to AIIMS-Jammu, given its strategic location, underscores the government’s commitment to safeguarding critical infrastructure, particularly in regions with heightened security sensitivities.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.