National Security Guards

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National Security Guard
राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा गार्ड
Rashtriya Suraksha Guard
Abbreviation NSG
National Security Guards.jpg
NSG Logo
Motto Sarvatra Sarvottam Surakhsha
Everywhere the Best Protection
Agency overview
Formed 1984
Legal personality Governmental: Government agency
Jurisdictional structure
Federal agency India
Constituting instrument National Security Guard Act, 1986
General nature
Specialist jurisdiction Paramilitary law enforcement, counter insurgency, armed response to civil unrest, counter terrorism, special weapons operations.
Operational structure
Agency executive NPS Aulakh, Director General
Parent agency Indian Police Service Indian Army
Website
www.nsg.gov.in

The National Security Guard (NSG)(Hindi: राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा गार्ड) is a Special Response Unit in India that has primarily been utilized for counter-terrorism activities and was created by the Cabinet Secretariat under the National Security Guard Act of the Indian Parliament in 1986. It works completely within the Central Paramilitary Force structure.

The NSG operates under the oversight of the Ministry of Home Affairs and is headed by the Director General of the Indian Police Service (IPS).[1] The DG has always been an IPS officer whereas the recruitment is done from the Central Paramilitary Forces Of India and the Indian Armed Forces.

The NSG members are also known as Black Cats because of the black nomex coveralls and balaclavas or assault helmets they wear.

In response to criticism of the time taken for the NSG commandos to arrive in Mumbai from their base in Manesar, Haryana during the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, the Government of India has decided to deploy NSG contingents in major cities across India like Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai.

Contents

[edit] Functions

The NSG's roles include protecting VIPs, conducting anti-sabotage checks, rescuing hostages, neutralizing terrorist threats to vital installations, engaging terrorists and responding to hijacking and piracy.

The NSG is much sought after for VVIP security for high-risk VVIPs in India; this task is done by the Special Rangers Group of the NSG. The Special Action Group is the strike force in anti-terrorist and anti-hijack operations, supported by the SRG and others. The NSG's specific goals include:

  • Neutralization of terrorist threats
  • Handling hijacking situations in air and on land.
  • Bomb disposal (search, detection and neutralisation of IEDs).
  • PBI (Post Blast Investigation)
  • Engaging and neutralizing terrorists in specific situations.
  • Hostage Rescue

The NSG has a total personnel strength of about 14,500. The NSG is modelled on Germany's GSG-9 [2][3]. It is a task-oriented force and has two complementary elements in the form of the Special Action Group (SAG) and the Special Ranger Groups (SRG). All the personnel are on deputation from Indian Armed Forces.

The SAG is the offensive wing drawn from units of the Indian Army. The SRG consists of members from Central Police Organisations (CPOs) such as the Border Security Force (BSF), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and State Police forces and other units.

The NSG Training Centre is a Centre of Excellence and the National Bomb Data Centre holds international conferences. Both are located at Manesar in Haryana. The NSG Headquarters Exchange is located at Mehramnagar, Palam.

[edit] History

The NSG was established under the National Security Guard Act of 1986. The NSG was formed after an analysis of 1984 Operation Blue Star. During this operation, in which the Indian Army removed Sikh militants who had seized control of the Golden Temple, there was significant civilian collateral casualties. The temple also suffered damages during that operation. The operation highlighted the need for a force specialising in counter-terrorist operations with greater efficiency.

The NSG commandos were first used to combat the insurgency movement in the Indian state of Punjab in 1986. They are now primarily utilised for counter-terrorist activities and have been continuing major combat operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

NSG deployments are usually not made public, with most of its operations remaining classified.

Some of the NSG's known operations include:

As on December 2008, Germany offered to give additional assistance and training to the NSG by the famous GSG-9. [4]

[edit] Equipment

[edit] Upgrades after 26/11

  • protective goggles
  • mini remotely operated vehicles

[edit] Former chiefs

The following had commanded the NSG in the past:[1]

  • RT Nagrani
  • MC Mishra
  • KL Watts
  • SD Pandey
  • HP Bhatnagar
  • Ved Marwah
  • DVLN Ramakrishna Rao
  • Dr S Subramanian
  • RK Wadehra
  • BJS Sial
  • AK Tandon

[edit] In fiction

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links