27 February,2009 07:44 AM IST | | Anshuman G Dutta
Extra Army troops to make National Security Guards more efficient
India's most efficient commando force, the National Security Guards (NSG), will become even more lethal with additional troops from the Indian Army set to join its ranks.
The Indian Army has agreed to depute 3,000 commandos at the four NSG anti-terror hubs being set up in Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Mumbai. The proposal to create the anti-terror hubs was passed by the Ministry of Home Affairs in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks.
"Almost 90 per cent of the NSG troops will be from the Indian Army now. The force will retain its homogenous nature but with the large number of Army personnel, training will become easier," said a Ministry of Defence (MoD) official, wishing anonymity.
Sources in the MoD also said that commandos from the Army's elite 2 Para Special Forces will be deployed in Bangalore.
With the induction of fresh blood and based on their experience of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the NSG also plans to adopt new methods to crack crisis situations. Sources said the Indian Army has already sent to the MoD its proposal regarding the placement of troops.
The NSG currently has 4,000 commandos specially trained to deal with terror attacks, run anti-hijacking operations and rescue hostages. And the commandos are pooled in from both the Army and para-military organisations, including the police forces.
