4.5-tonne heavy, bullet proof vehicle deployed at Parliament

An armoured 360-degrees revolving Anti-Terrorist Vehicle has been deployed in the Parliament complex for securing it against terrorist attack-like incidents.

Brought out on special anti-ballistic configuration approved by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, the two commandos-seater vehicle has been put on “trial” at the seat of power in central Delhi to test its efficacy in combating a terrorist or suicide attack, officials said.

The 4.5-tonne military camouflage vehicle, moving on tank-like tyres has a special armour plating, which can resist close firing from any modern assault rifle and grenades also provides ample opportunity to armed commandos to take precise aim from the firing ports without getting hit.

It also has enough space for commandos to stock their weapons and ammunition, the officials said.

The ATV, officials said, has been handed over for trial to the elite security wing of the Central Reserve Police Force securing the complex under its Parliament Duty Group charter and will be seen rolling in and out during the Budget session commencing on Tuesday.

The vehicle, due to its sheer small size and capability to rotate 360-degrees on a stationary mounted platform, has been developed by a Jaipur-based firm on the directions of DRDO for special counter-terrorist tasks.

The vehicle can attain a maximum speed limit of 25 km per hour and is the first of its kind in the small variants of bullet proof vehicles that are required to operate in large built up areas like Parliament, they said.

The single ATV, put on trial recently, sports a flashy police beacon and has overall armour, including bullet proof glasses, to protect the driver.

Officials said such a vehicle was required by special strike teams of CRPF keeping in view the threat perception to the sensitive facility which had come under a terrorist attack in 2001.

Image: The ATV at the Parliament complex ahead of the budget session, in New Delhi. Photograph: Atul Yadav/PTI