The National Security Guards (NSG) are set to be deployed in Kashmir as a part of counter-insurgency (CI) grid, according to a Hindustan Times report. This would present the NSG with an opportunity to remain at their peak combat capabilities and will also aid the CRPF and local police administration. This deployment will also help in achieving a reduced number of casualties for the security forces in the state.
The NSG has also been asked to train both the CRPF and the J&K (Jammu & Kashmir) state Police in counter-terrorism operations in densely populated areas. The Ministry of Home Affairs was examining a proposal to deploy the NSG, popularly known as “Black Cat Commandos” in the valley for quite some time now. The DGP police, Jammu and Kasmir, S P Vaid earlier stated that such proposals are being mulled over and he has been working on the proposal. Vaid stated – “Hope, I will be successful” while commenting on this subject. It seems he has been successful.
Home secretary Rajiv Guaba on May 4th issued written directions to national security agencies that Black Cat Commandos will be a part of the counter-insurgency operations in Srinagar city and they will also train the two forces within the city jurisdiction. The instructions have been communicated to both, DG NSG Sudeep Laktakia and DG, Jammu & Kashmir Police, SP Vaid.
DG NSG is sending a senior officer team to meet DGP Vaid to assess the required personnel and the kind of training needed in the valley.
NSG is expected to take part in high-risk house intervention operations, which are aimed at flushing out terrorists and suicide attackers holed up in densely populated localities in Srinagar and other towns.
The CRPF does currently conduct house intervention operations this has a high rate of causality as in many cases the adversary is willing to die. Thus, to minimize the human casualty the Army currently brings down the entire building rather than flushing out the terrorists in the open.
The NSG is India’s elite counter-terror force comprising of 10,000 men, recruited directly and on deputation from the Army. NSG uses sophisticated Heckler and Koch MP5 sub-machine guns and sniper rifles, through-the-wall radar and C-4 explosives to eliminate holed up terrorists without causing much damage to the structure, previously Home Minister Rajnath Singh while visiting an NSG event in Telangana stated that the government believes these commandos can play a big role in operations such as those where terrorists take human shield and enter civilian premises.
