Chapter 122: Laying the Foundation of the CISF
The crisis in Ceylon was brewing and heading to a direction Rohan was very well familiar.
He knew that soon a civil war will break out but the world has always been in an constant moving cycle with threats evolving.
That is why while he is keeping his eyes on that issue, he is working towards something more powerful.
Rohan in his previous world was always dissatisfied with Indian Government passive approach to threat.
But now that he has the opportunity and knowledge of future in 1953, he will make sure no one pushes India to the backfoot again.
Rohan sat at the head of the long mahogany table in his office, his eyes scanning the faces of his most trusted advisors and leaders.
Gathered around him were not just his closest confidants, but the key figures in India's security landscape
KN Menon, the Home Minister; Rao, the head of R&AW; Atma, the director of IB; KP Singh, the External Affairs Minister; and Neeraj, Rohan's personal advisor.
Each of these men had played a vital role in shaping the country's defense and intelligence apparatus
But today, they were here to discuss something even more significant, the creation of a specialized force to secure India's rapidly growing industrial sector.
Rohan had already laid the groundwork in his mind, drawing from his knowledge of the future.
He knew exactly what the nation needed, but convincing the others would take careful explanation.
He leaned forward, breaking the silence. "Gentlemen, I know everyone of you is tired with the things that are happening around us. But we have a duty to this nation which is to protect it forever. With NSG we have taken a step into the future but now it's time for something else."
Taking a pause, Rohan looked around and continued.
"India is growing. Our industries, power plants, airports, and refineries they are the heart of our economy, and they're vulnerable. We can't afford to protect them with only the military or local police. We need something more a dedicated force. That's why I'm proposing the creation of the Central Industrial Security Force, or CISF."
KN Menon**, the Home Minister, sat up a little straighter, his eyes narrowing slightly. "A specialized force? How different will this be from the paramilitary units we already have, Sir?"
Rohan glanced at Menon. If he didn't make his case clear, the idea could get slowed down in bureaucratic resistance.
"The police and paramilitary forces are overstretched. Their focus is law and order, and our military is concerned with external threats. But these industrial sites our power plants, steel factories, ports are exposed to sabotage, terrorism, and even internal unrest. The CISF would focus solely on protecting critical infrastructure."
Neeraj, sitting at the other end of the table, added, "If we lose any of these key installations, it won't just be a security breach it could bring the entire economy to a halt."
Rao, the head of R&AW, leaned forward, his voice calm but serious.
"We've seen attempts at sabotage in the past, Prime Minister. From foreign intelligence operations to insurgent groups. There have been probes at our oil refineries and even a few incidents near Nucelar power plants. This is becoming a real threat."
Atma, the head of IB, nodded in agreement. "Our internal intelligence shows similar risks. We've intercepted communications from groups that are planning to target our industrial backbone. The police and the military aren't equipped to deal with threats like these on a continuous basis. They're too scattered, and often too late to respond."
Rohan reached for the file in front of him and handed a copy to each man.
"I've drafted the structure and scope of the CISF here. This isn't just another security force, it will be a multi-tiered organization, designed to handle everything from physical security to disaster management and even intelligence sharing."
KP Singh, the External Affairs Minister, flipped through the file, raising an eyebrow. "You've already mapped out the hierarchy," he noted.
"I see there's a plan for sectors and zones. How do you envision this working?"
Rohan leaned back in his chair, explaining with precision. "We'll divide the CISF into geographic sectors, North, South, East, West, and North-East. Each of these sectors will be overseen by an Inspector General. These IGs will report directly to the Director-General of the CISF, who in turn will report to the Home Ministry.
The idea is to have layers of command so that no critical facility is left unguarded."
Menon nodded slowly, understanding. "It's a smart structure. But I'm concerned about logistics. How will we recruit the personnel needed to man these posts? And more importantly, how do we train them?"
Rohan smiled. He had anticipated this question. "We'll recruit veterans from the military and police forces to form the core of the CISF. These individuals already have the discipline and experience we need. But their training won't stop there. We'll establish specialized training academies.
The National Industrial Security Academy in Hyderabad will be our main hub for advanced training. Recruits will learn not just basic combat, but also industrial security protocols, disaster management, and counter-terrorism techniques."
Atma, who had been quietly studying the file, spoke up. "I see you've included a Fire Wing as part of the structure. This is smart, considering the risk of industrial accidents. Fires and explosions are as much a threat to our infrastructure as sabotage."
Rohan nodded. "Exactly. We'll need about 5,000 personnel trained in fire safety, stationed at key sites like oil refineries, steel plants, and chemical factories. We can't rely on local fire departments alone. Our personnel will need to know how to handle industrial-scale disasters."
Rao, leaned forward. "You've mentioned intelligence sharing. How closely will the CISF be working with R&AW and IB?"
"Very closely," Rohan responded, his voice firm. "The CISF will need real-time intelligence to prevent sabotage and terror attacks. Your teams will play a crucial role. The CISF will have an intelligence division that liaises with both of your agencies to stay ahead of any emerging threats. We can't afford to be reactive, we need to be proactive."
Neeraj glanced up from his file, a look of concern on his face. "And what about the coordination with local law enforcement? There could be issues with jurisdiction."
Rohan waved a hand, dismissing the concern. "The CISF will work alongside local police, but in the event of a crisis, they'll have overriding authority on-site. This will prevent delays in decision-making. Time is critical in situations like fires, terrorist threats, or industrial accidents. If the CISF is on the ground, they'll have command."
Menon scratched his chin, clearly impressed but still cautious. "It's ambitious, Sir, You're talking about building an entire new force from the ground up. How long do you think this will take. Considering in mind that we just established NSG"
"We'll start small," Rohan said. "The initial force will consist of around 3,000 men, and we'll focus on our most critical infrastructure first, airports, power plants, refineries. Over the next few years, we'll expand. The long-term goal is to have over **100,000 personnel. By then, we'll be covering ports, steel plants, and telecommunications centers."
KP Singh looked up, his face serious. "Prime Minister, this could change the way we approach national security. But we'll need more than just internal cooperation. The private sector will need to buy into this as well. Are we going to force industries to accept government security?"
Rohan shook his head. "No, KP. The CISF will be offered as a service, especially to private industries. They'll have the option to hire the CISF for their security needs. We'll make amendments to the CISF Act, allowing them to provide consultancy services. This way, even private enterprises will benefit from government-level security."
Menon leaned back in his chair, clearly thinking over the idea. "So, we're not just creating a security force, we're creating a security industry. If the private sector sees the CISF as a valuable asset, they'll pay to protect their assets, and that'll help sustain the force."
"Exactly," Rohan said with a satisfied nod. "It's a long-term investment in our country's security and economic future. As India grows, so will the threats to our critical infrastructure. We need to be prepared."
Rao and Atma exchanged a glance, both clearly on board. "Our intelligence teams will support this, Prime Minister," Rao said.
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"But we'll need to coordinate closely, especially as the CISF expands into more vulnerable industries."
Rohan stood, sensing that the discussion was coming to a close.
"This force," Rohan said quietly but firmly, "will be our shield. It's not just about guarding infrastructure, it's about protecting the very future of this nation. We can't afford to let our industries become targets."
The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of the conversation sinking in.
Finally, Menon nodded, breaking the silence. "You have my full support, Prime Minister. Let's get this moving."
The rest of the room echoed his sentiment, and Rohan felt a sense of quiet satisfaction.
While it may take some time, but eventually India will become one of the first countries who established very useful and powerful institutions.
It won't be India who will be passive anymore.