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Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
NSG roped in for ops against LWE, says DG
Black Cat commandos from the National Security Guards (NSG) have been roped in to assist other security forces in anti-Naxal operations, the force's director general (DG) Brighu Srinivasan said on Tuesday, adding that the elite squad played a key role during Operation Sindoor when it defused explosives at the Jammu airport. Addressing the inauguration of the 23rd NSG Counter-Terror International Seminar in the Capital, Srinivasan said, 'The NSG Hyderabad regional hub for anti-Naxal operations is currently in Gadchiroli (Maharashtra), and is working in conjunction with the state police. As per the directions of the home minister, NSG is also conducting joint exercise with the District Reserve Guard (DRG) of Chhattisgarh.' This is the first the force is being used in the fight against left wing extremism (LWE), which the Centre has vowed to eliminate by March 31, 2026. 'NSG's skill set is limited. Our operations are precise. If we are called and if there is intelligence, we operate. We are also learning during the anti-Naxal operations. If there is a need, we will also conduct operations (anti-naxal).' Srinivasan added. During Operation Sindoor –– India's military response to the Pahalgam terror attack, the NSG played a key role when its bomb squad defused an 8kg payload of explosives that was dropped from a drone at the Jammu airport, Srinivasan said. In the aftermath of the operation, the force also conducted anti-hijacking exercises in railway stations at Jammu, which has been on high alert since the April 22 attack. The NSG chief also said that, in January 2025, NSG conducted a security audit and anti-hijacking exercises on inland water cruise liners. 'On the directions of the MHA (ministry of home affairs), NSG conducted the security audit of the inland water cruise liners. The teams conducted anti-hijack exercises in the cruise liners operating in the Ganga and the Brahmaputra,' he said. NSG, India's elite counterterror force, is used only in exceptional circumstances. NSG commandos are selected from the Army, the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and state police. NSG personnel have been deployed during the 26/11 Mumbai attack and the 2016 Pathankot attack.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
National Security Guard defused two drones laden with explosives at Jammu airport after Operation Sindoor: NSG Director General
The National Security Guard (NSG) played a key role in defusing eight kilogrammes of explosives dropped by two drones at Jammu civilian airport in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, NSG Director General Brighu Srinivasan said on Tuesday (June 10, 2025). The NSG has been deployed for anti-Maoist operations in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra along with the State police, Mr. Srinivasan said. This is the first time that the NSG has been deployed in a Left Wing Extremism-affected area amid the Union government's aim to end Maoism by March 2026. The NSG is an elite counter-terror and counter-hijack force deployed during terrorist attacks in civilian areas, and also provides security cover to VVIPs. The force draws 100% of its strength from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), and Army personnel on fixed deputation. In the recent past, 17 religious sites, 21 nuclear installations, and 14 sensitive locations had been surveyed by the NSG, and their 3D maps prepared, Mr. Srinivasan said. The NSG conducts counter-hijack and counter-terrorism exercises round the year in coordination with the State police, and 180 anti-air hijack exercises were held in 2024, he said. 'Last month, counter-terrorist exercises were conducted along with J&K Police and Indian Railways, and in future, train intervention exercises will be intensified,' Mr. Srinivisan said. He was speaking at the inauguration of the 23rd edition of the NSG's Counter-Terror International Seminar under the theme 'Forging Collaboration and Innovation to Counter Terror Threats and Address the Complexities of Modern Terrorism'. 'In January this year, on the instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs, a security audit of Inland Waterways Cruise Liners was done, and anti-hijack exercises were conducted on cruise liners on the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers,' the Director General said. A specialised operations training centre is under construction at Manesar in Haryana at a cost of ₹140 crore. Delegations from more than 17 foreign countries, including the U.S., Russia, Japan, Israel, Germany, and Indonesia are participating, along with senior officials from the State police, CAPF, the Indian Army, intelligence agencies, and leading think tanks. Discussions led by experts from the U.S. and Israel focused on global counter-terrorism frameworks, counter-radicalisation strategies, and operational challenges in urban combat, helping Indian stakeholders benchmark best practices from friendly foreign countries, the NSG said in a statement. The NSG signed a Memorandum of Understanding with various State police forces, laying the foundation for a first-of-its-kind unified counter-terrorism coordination framework, institutionalised joint training, and first responder interoperability. 'The MoU embodies India's resolve to evolve from fragmented action to a synchronised national response, integrating both kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities through a calibrated, interoperable structure,' the NSG said.
