HYDERABAD: National Security Guards, the elite special force, is likely to join the counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir shortly. Hinting at this possibility, Union home minister Rajnath Singh has hinted at a key role being given to the NSG in J&K.
“Terrorists are taking cover behind civilians and hiding in their homes. With terrorists changing their strategies every now and then in J&K, the NSG can play a key role there,’’ he said soon after inaugurating the 28 Special Composite Group (SCG) complex of the NSG at Ibrahimpatnam here on Tuesday.
The proposal to have NSG on the counter-insurgency grid had been pending for quite some time and now with the Union home minister indicating a bigger role for it, the decks for it seem to have been cleared.
While appreciating the efforts of the Army to battle terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajnath Singh made note of global trends in terror attacks like ‘lone wolf attacks’ and stressed the need for continuous improvement in technical and tactical efficiency in counter-terror operations.
According to sources, NSG will take up operations alongside Army’s counter-insurgency wing Rashtriya Rifles and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). At present, half-a-dozen agencies like the Army, Border Security Force (BSF), CRPF, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the J & K police are engaged in counter-insurgency operations and the latest to join the security grid will be the NSG.
Loiterers to be shot?
As many as 100 media delegations allowed inside the NSG regional hub for the inauguration of 28 special composite group complex in Ibrahimpatnam were clearly briefed the do’s and dont’s, and also warned against straying across the place. Commandos in charge of the media said that NSG is an elite anti-terror force and prefers to maintain secrecy about its infra and operational abilities such that orders have been issued for shoot-at-sight if anyone is found where one is not supposed to be.