Despite manpower crunch, CISF to now guard Ramdev's food park in Haridwar

New Delhi: Already facing lack of manpower crunch the CISF will now also be guarding Yoga guru Ramdev's Patanjali Food and Herbal Park.

This is the 8th private sector establishment and only FMCG to be protected by the paramilitary force since 2009.

"This has been done under government orders. This the government law and order assessment showed a need for CISF deployment," CISF DG Surender Singh said.

A squad of 35 CISF men had been deployed at the said facility in the middle of 2015 for temporary security duties after some protests erupted there and after the fresh orders they will be deployed there round the clock, a senior official said.

Officials said the expenditure for security deployment at the multi-acre food park is estimated to be about Rs 40 lakh per annum and logistical facilities for these men like barracks, armoury and vehicles will also be provided by the "client".

Ramdev, a yoga exponent who has set up a business empire worth thousands of crores of rupees in personal care and food products sector, is himself a 'Z' category protectee of central paramilitary forces.

Officials said sophisticated weapons toting CISF commando squad will be headed by an Assistant Commandant-rank officer and will be deployed on a 'quick reaction team' pattern which entails stationing them in vantage positions. The teams react like they would in the wake of any terrorist attack or sabotage like activity.