Government to review security of defence base

The government is setting up a committee after the recent attack on an IAF base at Pathankot to review security at defence bases in the country based on the “risk factor”. Speaking on Thursday, defence minister Manohar Parrikar said the government has also asked the officers commanding the bases to do a thorough security assessment and fix any loopholes. Mr Parrikar, who was speaking to reporters during his visit to the NCC Republic Day Camp here, declined to give details about the likely composition of the committee but said a notification in this regard should be out in the next two to four days.

“A specific team is being made. Maybe in another week’s time it will be active. It will visit (the bases) and look into priorities like the risk factor, sensitivity and assets. It will also talk to the local commanders,” he said.

“As far as other defence installations are concerned, not just the Air Force, but all Defence Forces...Whoever is in-charge. They have been told that they should make an assessment of every threat and take immediate measures to ensure that any weakness is blocked,” he added.

Mr Parrikar said the government’s review of security measures will not put any roadblock to the ongoing probe by the NIA into the attack.