'Set up NSG hubs in four metros in time'

New Delhi, Wed, 14 Jan  

In the wake of late action initiated by National Security Guards during Mumbai terror strikes on Nov 26, though they did remarkably well, the government, facing criticism, has come up with a proposal for setting up new regional hubs for NSG.

The new hubs will initially be set up at four metro cities-Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad to enable quick mobilisation of troops in demanding circumstances like 26/11.
  Later more such hubs will be established virtually in every state’s capital.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram met Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor and NSG Director-General J K Dutt here on Tuesday and directed them to prepare a proposal of logistics for the hubs with the personnel strength between 250 and 300 for each hub.

The home minister has also asked to provide detailed requirement of officers, weaponry and logistics for each hub so that these could be implemented within four months, sources in the home ministry said.

It was also discussed in the meeting whether to replicate the training facilities at Manesar (near Delhi) where the NSG commandos are now trained, and whether anti-terrorist personnel should be trained by the defence forces for cities like Bangalore which has not find place in the first list of NSG hub. Army has responded positively to the Centre's plan to cover IT city Bangalore by its trained commandos.

Earlier, Chidambaram had said that certain cities which will not have NSG hubs will be covered by a trained anti-terrorist forces, provided by Army, such as Bangalore, which will be covered by the Special Force of the Army’s Parachute Regiment. The Army’s Parachute Regiment has its headquarter in Bangalore.

For the immediate operation of the plan, Army will provide an additional 4,000 personnel for the NSG, including 600 officers and 1,000 junior commissioned officers for the new hub. Currently, the Army has about 4,000 men on deputation for the NSG.

It has also been decided that two special aircrafts either the IL-76 or AN-32 will immediately be provided to the NSG. Also, a five acre plot has been decided to allocate near Palam for setting up of a small hub in Delhi to help NSG team takes off at short notice.