National Security Guard (NSG) commandos have arrived in Kashmir to take part in anti-militancy operations, joining half a dozen forces already operating in the state.
The commandos are staying at Border Security Force (BSF) headquarters at Humhama, near Srinagar Airport, BSF public relations officer Vishnu Bandhoo said.
A special force working under home ministry that was raised in 1984 following Operation Bluestar and Indira Gandhi’s assassination, NSG is an addition to army, Central Reserve Police Force, police, Sashastra Seema Bal, BSF and Indo Tibetan Border Police.
“They might be carrying out routine drills,” Vishnu said.
NSG has been rarely used in anti-militancy operations in the state and Punjab along with army’s Para commandos.
In some of the operations, Indian Air Force’s Garud commandos and Navy’s elite fighters, Marcos, whose job is to secure Wular Laake, have also been used in Kashmir.
Greater Kashmir in first week of April reported about the deployment of NSG for anti-militancy operations in Kashmir.
A top MHA official said that 100 NSG commandos are staying at Humhama BSF headquarters.
“They are being imparted training to make them familiar about anti-militancy operations in Kashmir. Soon they would be part of these ops,” he said.
The official said NSG commandos are armed with MP-5 assault rifles, Glock pistols, corner-shot guns and door- and wall-busting explosives.
“These weapons are mostly used to track down and kill holed-up militants swiftly,” he said.
“We hope NSG men will carry out operations swiftly and avoid confrontation with civilians who have created hurdles in operations and also helped militants escape in several instances,” he said.
To begin with, the commandos will be deployed in southern Kashmir with army.
“They will also be available on call,” the MHA official said.
He said that a team of NGS commandos will be also kept near the airport to foil any highjack bid besides lowering army’s casualty rate.