National Security Guards
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| National Security Guard | |
| Abbreviation | NSG |
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| NSG Logo | |
| Agency Overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1984 |
| Legal personality | Governmental: Government agency |
| Jurisdictional Structure | |
| Federal agency | India |
| Constituting instrument | National Security Guard Act, 1986 |
| General nature |
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| Specialist jurisdiction | Paramilitary law enforcement, counter insurgency, armed response to civil unrest, counter terrorism, special weapons operations. |
| Operational Structure | |
| Parent agency | Indian Police Service |
| Website | |
| www.nsg.gov.in | |
The National Security Guard (NSG) 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 Police Organizations 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, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai.
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[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:
- April 30, 1986 - attack on Khalistani militants who took over the Golden Temple during Operation Black Thunder I
- May 12, 1988 — attack on Khalistani militants hiding in the Golden Temple during Operation Black Thunder II
- April 25, 1993 — rescue of hijacked plane Indian Airlines Boeing 737 by Islamic militants during Operation Ashwamedh
- October, 1998 — major combat missions in Jammu and Kashmir
- July 15, 1999 — rescue of 12 hostages held by armed terrorists who had stormed an apartment complex in Kashmir and killed 4 people
- September 25, 2002 — Operation Vajra Shakti to free hostages held by terrorists who had killed 26 worshippers at the Akshardham temple in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. They suffered their first combat death in this operation. A second commando, who was seriously injured and was in a coma, died after 18 months.
- November 26 2008 Mumbai attacks — Operation Black Tornado and Operation Cyclone to flush out terrorists & rescue hostages after multiple attacks across Mumbai, India. Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan and Gajender Singh Bisht of the Special Action Group lost their lives during the operations.
As on December 2008, Germany offered to give additional assistance and training to the NSG by the famous GSG-9. [4]
[edit] Former Chiefs
The following had commanded the NSG in the past:[1]
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[edit] In fiction
- Sacred Games - A book by Vikram Chandra.
- Kashmeeram - A Malayalam movie by Rajiv Anchal; starring Suresh Gopi.
- Keerthi Chakra -- A Malayalam movie by Major Ravi; starring Mohanlal.
- Mission 90 Days - A Malayalam movie by Major Ravi; starring Mammooty.
- Baazi - A Hindi movie by Ashutosh Gowarikar; starring Aamir Khan.
- Vaaranam Aayiram -- A 2008 Tamil movie by Gautham Menon portrays Surya Sivakumar's character as an NSG agent.
- Angrakshak hindi movie starring Sunny Deol.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b FORMER DGS. "NSG". OFFICIAL WEBSITE NSG. http://nsg.gov.in/FormerDGs.htm. Retrieved on 2007-10-05.
- ^ India Today 2009 01 09 Modernising the NSG article
- ^ Indian Express article on GSG-9 re-training the NSG
- ^ http://www.indianexpress.com/news/elite-german-police-wing-to-train-nsg/400650/
[edit] External links
- NSG. "National Security Guard". http://www.nsg.gov.in.: Official Website of NSG
- India Defence. "National Security Guards". http://www.india-defence.com/military/nationalsecurityguards. Retrieved on May 14 2006.
- Bharat Rakshak. "National Security Guards". http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Special-Forces/NSG.html. Retrieved on May 14 2006.
- Federation of American Scientists. "National Security Guards". http://www.fas.org/irp/world/india/mod/nsg.htm. Retrieved on May 14 2006.
- Bharat Rakshak. "National Security Guards". http://web.archive.org/web/19980419131938/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/ARMY/NSG.html. Retrieved on November 30 2008.
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