National Security Guard Commandos

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR GENERAL'S DESK

The National Security Guard has completed around 22 years in rendering significant service to the nation as a federal contingency force.   It has been raised, equipped and trained as an elite commando organization to counter terrorism   in all its facets in any part of our country.  In present times, there is a lot happening in life and around us. In NSG our prime endeavor is to keep the Force youthful by regularly infusing young blood from Central Forces and imparting to them specialized training in Counter Terrorist Operations and Counter Hijacking.   Our commandos have also received training at Bhaba Atomic Research Centre to combat  the situations arising out of nuclear, biological and chemical threats. The Black Cats of  NSG take birth from a process of training, retraining and enhanced training of a specialist nature.  There are always endings and fresh beginnings.  Though NSG was primarily raised as a Quick Reaction Contingency Force to deal with anti-hijacking, hostage rescue and combating terrorist activities, the Force also provides protection to high risk dignitaries, conducts anti sabotage checks at venues of public gatherings and performs Sky Marshal duties in domestic as well international flights.   NSG is a light unto itself. 
It was a moment of pride for the nation and the Force, when the West Indies and the International Cricket Control Board asked for an NSG contingent to be sent there for Bomb Detection and Disposal tasks at various stadiums for the Cricket World Cup 2007 Championship.   This was the first overseas assignment and emergence of the NSG on the world stage.  The NSG Commandos also provided foolproof security to the dignitaries during the SAARC Summit held in Delhi.   In September 2007 an NSG team participated in Germany in the Tenth International Combat Team Conference and Competition and won the Gold Cup in the physical category under extremely trying conditions.  Another six member NSG team stood first in `Fast Shooting Lane events in  Body Meet Competition` held at Yalta in Ukraine, bagging both individual and team events making our country and the NSG proud.  In the Final Inter CPOs Debate Competition on Human Rights -2007 conducted by BSF under the aegis of NHRC,   Maj VS Malik of NSG secured the first prize.  The overall performance of the NSG in the year gone by has been more than satisfying in every manner. 
The NSG Bomb Data Centre possesses expertise in detecting and defusing IEDs and explosives. Several times the Bomb Disposal Units were detailed for post blast investigations etc, at different places. At Manesar Garrison, the NSG Training Centre provides world class training in Bomb Disposal, VIP Security, Specialist Driving, Counter Terrorism and Counter Hijacking to State Police personnel, members of Central Forces and security forces of foreign counties. Efforts are on to create new facilities at the NSG Training Centre Manesar along with construction of accommodation etc for Commandos to improve their living condition. Setting up of a state of art ‘Indoor Shooting Range‘ is progressing. Physical fitness and the benchmark of marksmanship are being raised with intensive training. Every commando will learn to swim. Physical activity gives an impetus to greater agility and proficiency as well as the ability to control mental tension and avoid stress.
Never before in modern times has the country needed highly trained Special Forces like NSG capable of responding to any mission for making a breakthrough in a crisis situation. The vastness of the country, existing security scenario, development of industries, increase in air traffic within and across borders etc have generated an increasing requirement for greater and faster response from the NSG in their duties or in reaching a trouble spot. A time may not be far when the NSG may have to spread its wings elsewhere as well in the country. The National Security Guard, like its symbol, the Sudarshan  Chakra, will always be ready with its razor edge sharpness and preparedness to deal with any call of duty, anywhere, any time with surgical precision.
The circle of time will traverse a new path with old and new signposts in the journey of progress and development during 2008. In the NSG we are geared up for meeting new challenges, which times may pose before us. I am proud to state that our Commandos are full of optimism with their morale high. Together we can and we will strive for Sarvatra, Sarvottam, Suraksha.

Jai Hind 
 

National Security Guards (NSG) is a Special Response Unit in India that has primarily been utilised for counter-terrorism activities and was created by the Cabinet Secretariat under the National Security Guard Act of the Parliament in 1985. It works completely within the Indian Armed Forces 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). They are the paramilitary part of the Indian Armed Forces. Recruitment is done from the Indian Armed Forces and other paramilitary forces. The NSG members are also known as Black Cats because of the black nomex coveralls and balaclavas or assault helmets they wear. Due to a lot of criticism directed at the Government of India for their soft response towards terrorism, and the time taken for the NSG commandos to arrive at Mumbai from their base in Manesar, Haryana in the wake of terrorist attacks on Mumbai on 26th November 2008, the Government of India has decided to set up units of NSG in various cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

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 SRG of the NSG. The SAG is strike force in anti-terrorist and anti-hijack operations, supported by the SRG and others. 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.
Rescue of hostages
The NSG has a total personnel strength of about 14,500. The NSG was modeled on the pattern of the SAS of the UK and GSG-9 of Germany. 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. The SAG is the offensive wing drawn from members of the Indian Army. The SRG consists of members from other paramilitary forces such as the Border Security Force (BSF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and State Police forces. There are other specialized units also.

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 HQ Exchange is located at Mehramnagar, Palam.

The NSG was established under the National Security Guard Act of 1986. The act was in response to the 1984 Operation Bluestar; the advance of Indian military to remove Sikh separatists who had seized control of the Golden Temple. The operation involved a significantly large number of military combatants; casualties, numbering in few hundreds, also involved civilians. The temple also suffered heavy damages. 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 1985. They are now primarily utilised for counter-terrorist activities and have been continuing major combat operations in Jammu and Kashmir. The NSG is not often deployed publicly, with most of its operations still remaining classified.

Some of the NSG's previous operations include:

• 30 April 1986	NSG commandos storm the Golden Temple in Operation Black Thunder I. No casualties on either side and no weapons are found.
• 12 May 1988	1000 NSG commandos surround the Golden Temple for yet an other assault in Operation Black Thunder II. By May 18th, all militants had surrendered at the cost of only two wounded Black Cats. In mid-1990 an NSG battalion was again deployed to Punjab to confront the Sikh rioters.
• 24-25 April 1994	NSG Commandos storm a hijacked Indian Airlines Boeing 737 with 141 passengers onboard at Amritsar airport during Operation Ashwamedh. The hijacker is killed before he can react and no hostages are harmed.
• October 1998	Commando teams supported by IAF helicopter gun-ships began striking at terrorist groups deep inside the mountains and forests of Kashmir. NSG and Rashtriya Rifles personnel were para-dropped into the area to hunt the militants. The operations were said to be highly successful and these missions are still ongoing.
• 15 July 1999	NSG commandos end a 30-hour standoff by killing 2 terrorists and rescuing all 12 hostages unharmed. The terrorists had attacked a BSF campus, killed 3 officers and the wife of another.
• 21 August 1999	Two terrorists were hiding in a one-storied house in Rudrapur, Uttar Pradesh. A 16-man NSG team arrived and began their assault.Both terrorists were shot. No NSG personnel were injured in the operation.
• 24 December 1999	Terrorists hijack Indian Airlines flight IC814 from Nepal, and land in Amritsar, Punjab. Within minutes of landing the Crisis Management Group (CMG), which authorizes the use of the NSG, is informed. But the CMG wastes precious hours and by the time the go-ahead is issued, it is too late.
• 25 September 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. Another commando, who was seriously injured and was in a coma, died after 18 months.
• November 2008:	Mumbai attacks - Operation Black Tornado, Operation Cyclone to flush out terrorists & rescue hostages after multiple attacks across Mumbai, India. Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan and Gajender Singh Bisht of Special Action Group lost their life during the operations. May 12, 1988.

With a total strength of approximately 7500 personnel, the NSG is divided into two groups - the Special Action Group (SAG) and the Special Rangers Group (SRG). The SAG, which comprises 54% of the force, is the elite, offensive wing with members drawn from the Indian Army. The SRG, on the other hand, has members on deputation from central police organisations like the Border Security Force (BSF), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Rapid Action Force (RAF). The primary function of the SRG is to play a supportive role to the SAF, especially in isolating target areas. For maintaining the young profile of the force, troops are rotated and sent back to their parent organisations after serving in the NSG for three to five years. The basic training period at the organisation's training centre at Manesar, 50 km from New Delhi, lasts 90 days. Only those who complete the entire course successfully are inducted into the NSG and given further specialised training.

The probation grind saps the toughest of recruits and the drop out rate is 50 - 70%. For starters there is a 26-item, 780-metre obstacle course, with a qualifying time of 18 minutes. If a person completes the course in 25 minutes, he is deemed fit. The best do it in less than nine minutes. The obstacles have to do with heights, horizontal gaps and vertical scaling and are difficult to tackle in sequence. As if this is not enough, there's a target shooting session at the end of the obstacle course meant to test the aspirants' performance under severe stress and exhaustion. Those who complete this course are recruited to the unit and sent for advanced training. Some operators are sent to Israel for advanced training. Though it is not known exactly what training they receive, it could probably be the CT/HRT course with Unit 707. The unit also cooperates with Israel's Shabach, for training in VIP protection.

Some NSG personnel have received additional training in Israel and use weapons like the famed 9mm Uzi sub-machine gun. Their weapon of choice, however, is the Heckler & Koch family of 9mm sub-machine guns, the 7.62mm PSG-1 sniper weapon and the Heckler & Koch 512 12-gauge shotgun. Side arms include Glock 17 and Sig Sauer P226 9mm pistols. They are also armed with state-of-the-art surveillance gadgets and other sophisticated equipment. The unit is also parachute-trained, but is uncertain whether this capability includes free-fall (HALO/HAHO) and static-line or just the latter. The unit also has a superb bomb disposal squad.

The smallest combat unit in the NSG's counter-terrorist ops is a hit which comprises of five members - two pairs, or partners and a technical support member. Four hits make a team which is under the command of a Captain. The number of hits used for an intervention job depends on its complexity and the magnitude of the operation. In hostage rescue situations, a team of 50 to 90 NSG personnel and an IL-76MD strategic transport aircraft to transport them, are stationed on alert at New Delhi's Palam AFS and are ready to deploy within 30 minutes of being informed.

The NSG is an elite force providing a second line of defence to the nation. They have played a pivotal role in safeguarding the unity of India and have commendably foiled attempts of anti-national elements to tear apart the social fabric of the country. The NSG has maintained an edge over terrorist outfits in possession of latest technology and are considered among the finest special operations units in all of South Asia. However, as Colonel Dutta says, "We are like nukes. The ultimate back-up."