A Dedicated Air Wing For NSG In The Making? Parliamentary Committee Tables Recommendations

The 215th Parliamentary Standing Committee Report on Home Affairs tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday recommended that the Home Ministry must provide a dedicated air wing to the National Security Guard (NSG), The Hindu has reported. The panel was chaired by former union minister P Chidambaram.

The committee noted that two Mi 17 helicopters procured by NSG were grounded and unavailable. On of the helicopters met with an accident in February 2002 and was damaged extensively. The second one is not being used due to lack of spare parts.

NSG’s delay in reaching Mumbai during the 26/11 terror attack was criticised. Non-availability of dedicated aircraft was the key reason for this delay. The report said that the NSG has not yet tested its ability to commandeer an aircraft and with this limitation, it would remain unaware of logistical challenges and response times.

The NSG was raised in 1986 after the assassination of Indira Gandhi. The force has been trained to be an urban anti terrorist and anti-hijack force. It doesn’t have a cadre of its own or direct recruits. The NSG gets its personnel sent on deputation from army and central armed police force.