need upgrade in Training and equipments for NSG commandos

[fineleg]

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s decision to create new National Security Guards centres across India has been greeted with applause by residents of major cities, who believe the decision will enhance their security against terrorist attacks. But the decision has worried many within the organisation, and experts in other elite special forces, who say the crack organisation needs to address simmering internal problems before entering a phase of expansion. Despite demonstrating exceptional valour during last month’s terrorist siege in Mumbai — in circumstances its commandos had never anticipated or trained for — the NSG’s handling of the rescue operation was marred by tactical errors and lapses of judgment. For 60 hours, the NSG combed the Taj Mahal hotel and Oberoi hotel room-by-room, using grenades and even Molotov cocktails to flush out the terrorists. These tactics, special forces experts told The Hindu, were straight out of the Indian Army’s urban warfare drills, not modern hostage-rescue practice. Down to their boots — the clunky, leather shoes used by soldiers, not the lightweight rubber-soled footwear used by special forces worldwide — the NSG looked like conventional soldiers, not a crack anti-terrorist unit. The commandos who entered the Taj Mahal and Oberoi hotels did not possess ballistic shields, which would have let them move through the corridors without fear of being shot. Nor did they have hydraulic door openers to gain access to rooms without using explosives. They had no bullet-proof helmets and no special communication equipment that allows for easy communication even during the noise of battle. Infantry domination Part of the problem, NSG insiders say, is that the organisation is increasingly dominated by infantry officers, rather than special forces personnel. Major-General A.K. Gupta, the Inspector-General in charge of operations, is from the Grenadiers Regiment while his deputy, Brigadier Govind Sisodia, is from the Sikh Regiment. Force Commander Brigadier S.C. Rangi, who heads the 2 SAG and 3 SRG, is from the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles while Colonel Anil Kumar, commanding officer of the 52 SAG, is from the Garhwal Rifles. Infantry officers, special forces personnel say, bring with them formidable strengths but also problematical habits of a lifetime — notably privileging hierarchy and structure over the unique characteristics of aggression and innovation that a commando must have. It is unclear why the NSG has acquired an increasingly conventional-military character. Ironically, large numbers of officers and men from the Indian Army’s seven para-commando battalions serve in counter-terrorism roles in organisations like the Rashtriya Rifles and Assam Rifles. An NSG officer who spoke to The Hindu commented that outdated training practices had also manifested themselves in tactical errors during the Mumbai siege, notably allowing the terrorists inside the Taj Mahal Hotel continued mobility between floors. “When you operate in a high-rise building,” the officer said, “the first thing that needs to be done is to secure the stairwells, and position yourself to shoot at anyone moving in the corridors. That way, you deny the terrorist mobility — which means half the battle is won. Instead we used tactics appropriate to combing a mountain for terrorists.” Internal politics Internal politics has also hit the NSG hard. From its inception, the organisation, which is commanded by an Indian Police Service officer of the rank of Director-General and is made up of personnel drawn from the Army, the police, and the paramilitary services, has suffered from inter-service tensions. Army officers who command the NSG’s operational arms have often developed adversarial relationships with their counterparts drawn from the IPS, who though several years junior in service typically enjoy higher rank. In addition, the organisation has faced problems with synergising its twin divisions, the Special Rangers Groups made up of police and paramilitary personnel and given cordoning tasks, and the Special Action Groups responsible for counter-terrorism and anti-hijacking duties. NSG officials say the route to building a world-class counter-terrorism organisation lies in developing a core of professionals who see themselves as members of a dedicated special force, not soldiers or policemen on deputation.

[vroomfondel]

In contrast, look at the badasses we have for the SPG (protects politicians, obviously).

[flamy]

In contrast, look at the badasses we have for the SPG (protects politicians, obviously).

whoa! thats even more badassss than shikhar dhawan! get him into the indian team yesterday!

[Guest dada_rocks]

Good start would be to provide functional bullet-proof vest so that we won't have to drown the inefficiency of the system in clarion call of martyrdom.. Had the simple task of provind good bullet-proof vest might have bene done Karkare might still be alive..