Sunday, 24 December 2017

Special Forces of India Part 4: National Security Guards (BLACK CATS): One for All, All for One

Hello friends welcome back and sorry for absence for long period, I am back with the details of National Security Guards. I will be sharing the background of creation of National Security Guards (NSG) i.e. why this force was needed? And other details available. If you have any problem with the terms in this blog please let me know by comment I will try to explain those words. I will post the meaning of some words in the comment section. So now let's begin with today's topic:

Introduction to NSG

BACKGROUND


The NSG personnel are often referred to as Black Cats because of the black dress and black cat insignia worn on their uniform and also because of their training and ability to finish the enemy in 3 seconds. It was raised in 1984, following Operation Blue Star and the assassination of Indira Gandhi, "for combating terrorist activities with a view to protect states against internal disturbances". NSG is under the authority of Ministry of Home Affairs. However it is not categorised under the uniform nomenclature of Central Armed Police Forces. It has a Special Forces mandate.

The Union Cabinet in 1984 took a decision to create a Federal Contingency Force comprising of personnel who are highly motivated, specially equipped and well trained to tackle the various manifestations of terrorism. In June 1984, a nucleus consisting of the Director General of NSG and other essential elements were sanctioned and steps were initiated to raise the Force. A bill for creation of this Organisation was introduced in the parliament in August 1986 and it received the assent of the President on September 22, 1986 and the National Security Guard (NSG) formally came into being from that date.

NSG operates in 2 groups. One is Special Action Group (SAG) and other is Special Ranger Group (SRG). Its core operational capability is provided by the Special Action Group (SAG) which is drawn from the Indian Army. The Special Rangers Group (SRG), the police component of NSG, which also handles VIP security, is composed of personnel on deputation from other Central Armed Police Forces and State Police Forces.
  
The basic philosophy of NSG is swift and speedy strike and immediate withdrawal from the theatre of action. National Security Guard has been given the SPECIFIC ROLE to handle all facets of terrorism in any part of the country as a Federal Contingency Force. The NSG was modelled on the pattern of the SAS of the UK and GSG-9 of Germany.

NSG in republic day parade

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

The ranks in NSG are roughly on the pattern of the police and the The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), as follows:

OFFICERS

Director General. (Lieutenant-General)
Additional Director General. (Lieutenant-General)
Inspector General. (Major-General)
Deputy Inspector General. (Brigadier)
Group Commander. (Colonel)
Squadron Commander. (Lieutenant-Colonel)
Team Commander. (Major/Capt)

ASSISTANT COMMANDERS (JCOS)

Assistant Commander Grade I. (Subedar Major)
Assistant Commander Grade II. (Subedar)
Assistant Commander Grade III. (Naib Subedar)

PERSONS OTHER THAN OFFICERS AND ASSISTANT COMMANDERS-

Ranger Grade I.
Ranger Grade II.
Combatised tradesmen.
Insignia of NSG
DIRECTOR GENERAL

I found it the biggest irony the this supreme fore is headed by Director General who is an IPS officer. As per the government policy, NSG is to be headed by an Officer from IPS. The only thing making it so supreme force is that the Combat Units under the NSG, which conduct counter terror operations are commanded by the Army Officers, this effectively negates the possibility of any officer with field experience in counter terror operations heading the organisation as its DG at a later stage. The head of NSG, designated as Director General (DG), is selected by the MHA-Home Minister. Since its raising in 1984, the NSG has had 32 DGs including current DG Shri Sudhir Pratap Singh(as listed below), in 34 years, with an average tenure one year and few months. Many have served as DG just for few months, while waiting for promotion or a more desirable post. None of the DGs has had experience of commanding NSG special actions groups, or any other Special Forces command experience. To understand the problems faced by the commandoes I findthis movie very useful.

SPECIAL ACTION GROUP (SAG)

The SAG is the main offensive or the strike wing of the NSG. Its members are drawn exclusively from the Indian army. The SAGs includes headquarters, support units, and training wing. The training of both the action and ranger group is conducted by the officers and Non-commissioned officers (NCOs) drawn from the army. There are two SAGs – 51 Special Action Group and 52 Special Action Group. The two SAGs (51 and 52) are tasked for counter-terror and counter-hijack operations respectively. The smallest operation sub unit of the SAG is called "hit", usually commanded by a NCO. A "hit" has five members – two pairs, or buddies, and a technical support member. Four hits make a team. A team is commanded by a Captain. In hostage rescue operations, depending on the situation, team size may vary from 50 to 90 NSG personnel. For immediate transport airlift IL-76MD strategic transport aircraft are stationed at New Delhi’s Palam Air Force Station and is ready to deploy within 30 minutes.

SPECIAL RANGER GROUP (SRG)

NSG has three SRGs, each with strength of a battalion, approximately total 900 all ranks. SRG personnel are drawn on deputation from Central Armed Police Forces and State Police forces. There are three SRGs – 11, 12 and 13. Initially SRG's mandate was to render logistical support to the SAGs during operations and is deployed for guarding high-risk VIPs/VVIPs.

ACHEIVEMENTS

9th annual warrior competition 2017 ( 30th apr to 04th may 2017)
Eight members commando team of NSG participated in 9th annual warrior competition 2017 at the King Abdullah ii special operations training centre (Kasotc), Amman, Jordan. Total 31 teams of following 16 nations across the world participated in the competition:-
 (A) China
(B) Lebanon
(C) Jordan
(D) Greece
(E) Egypt
(F) India
(G) USA
(H) Portugal
(J) The Czech Republic
(K) Tunisia
(L) Kuwait
(M) UAE
(N) Thailand
(O) Saudi Arabia
(P) Sudan
(Q) South Africa
Competition was held from 30 Apr – 04 May 2017. NSG team stood 8th in the final event. Overall NSG team stood 5th among the nations.

SELECTION AND TRAINING


Selection is demanding and has a dropout rate of about 70–80 percent. Three months out of their 14 months of training in Manesar, Haryana, are devoted to the basics. Physical fitness training has 26 elements, ranging from a cross-country obstacle course to jumping from heights and across divides and scaling different kinds terrain. One endurance test involves martial arts, target shooting at the end of an obstacle-ridden cross-country run. This is meant to gauge the candidate’s performance under conditions of stress and exhaustion. Those who successfully complete the tests are sent for nine months of advanced training.

MARTYRDOM

Total 19 soldiers of NSG have sacrificed their life for the country. For a list of martyrs of NSG you can refer this link

Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan and Havaldar Gajender Singh Martyred in Mumbai terrorist attack on 26th November and 27th November 2008

SOME OF THE IMPORTANT MISSIONS OF NSG

29–30 April 1986: About 300 NSG commandos and 700 Border Security Force troops stormed the Golden Temple in Operation Black Thunder I. The Temple was cleared and handed over to Punjab Police on 1 May 1986. 300 Sikh militants were captured, and there were no deaths or injuries for either side.


12 May 1988: 1,000 NSG commandos (all ranks) surrounded the Golden Temple for yet another assault, in Operation Black Thunder II. Sniper teams armed with Heckler & Koch PSG-1 rifles with night scope took up positions, including atop a 300-foot water tower. While commandos from the 51 SAG divided into assault squadrons, the SRG were used to seal off the area around the temple and for tactical support. In the three-day operation from 15–18 May 1988, the NSG cleared the temple. 40 terrorists were killed, and 200 surrendered. In the mid-1990s, a NSG battalion was again deployed in Punjab to confront the Sikh rioters. There they began training the Punjab Police in counter-terrorism.

25–26 January 1991: The NSG was involved in Operation Ani Ben, on CI tasks in Baroda, (Gujarat) where Punjab terrorists were holed up inside a house. Two terrorists were killed and two AK-47s were recovered.

24–25 April 1993: NSG Commandos storm a hijacked Indian Airlines Boeing 737 with 141 passengers on board at Amritsar airport during Operation Ashwamedh. Two hijackers, including their leader, Mohammed Yousuf Shah, were killed and one was disarmed. No hostages are harmed.
15 July 1999: NSG commandos end a 30-hour standoff by killing 2 terrorists and rescuing all 12 hostages unharmed in J&K. The terrorists had attacked a BSF campus near Srinagar, killed 3 officers and the wife of another. The 12 hostages were kept locked in a room.

21 August 1999: After interrogating three captured terrorists, the Delhi Police Crime branch confirmed that two more terrorists were hiding in a one-storied house in Rudrapur, Uttar Pradesh. Since the terrorists were considered armed and dangerous (their colleagues were arrested with 100+ pounds of RDX), the Delhi Police sought assistance from the NSG. A 16-man team arrived at the house at 4:45 am They began their assault at 5:30 am, before first light. The first militant managed to fire at the commandos with a pistol he kept by his bedside, but was killed an instant later. The second terrorist was shot before he had a chance to fire and died 40 minutes later. No NSG personnel were injured.


26 November 2008 Mumbai attacks — Operation Black Tornado and Operation Cyclone to flush out terrorists & rescue hostages after multiple attacks across Mumbai, India. Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan and Havaldar Gajender Singh Bisht of the Special Action Group lost their lives during the operations.Over 900 rooms were scanned, 9 Terrorists killed and over 600 hostages rescued during the Operation.

2016 Pathankot attack - An NSG team took part in the operation to neutralize terrorists where Lt. Col. Niranjan lost his life defusing a grenade or IED booby trapped on the body of a dead terrorist, and 12 other members of the unit were injured. Six terrorists were neutralised in the operation by the NSG, Defence Security Corps and the Garud Commando Force.
People offering roses to NSG commandos after 26/11 attack in Mumbai

FORMER DGS OF NSG
S.No.
Name
From
To
1
Shri R.T. Nagrani, IPS (AP-1951)
17/08/1984
25/09/1986
2
Shri M.C. Mishra, IPS (MP-1951)
25/09/1986
28/01/1987
3
Shri K.L. Watts, IPS(UP-1956)
28/01/1987
31/12/1987
4
Shri S.D. Pandey, IPS(UP-1952)
31/12/1987
31/03/1988
5
Shri H.P. Bhatnagar, IPS(Raj-1956)
31/03/1988
15/04/1988
6
Shri V.P Marwah, IPS (ut-1956)
15/04/1988
19/01/1990
7
Shri D.V.L.N. Ramakrishna Rao, IPS(AP-1957)
22/02/1990
14/05/1990
8
Dr. S.Subramanian, IPS(AP-1958)
14/05/1990
31/01/1992
9
Shri R.K. Wadehra, IPS(UP-1959)
31/01/1992
19/05/1992
10
Shri B.J.S. Sial, IPS(UP-1959)
19/05/1992
31/07/1993
11
Shri D.K.Arya, IPS(MP-1960)
30/06/1993
28/04/1994
12
Shri A.K. Tandon, IPS(Guj_1961)
28/04/1994
19/03/1997
13
Shri R.D.Tyagi, IPS(MH-1964)
19/03/1997
31/10/1997
14
Shri T.R.Kakkar, IPS(AGMU-1964)
06/05/1998
30/06/1999
15
Shri Nikhil Kumar, IPS(AGMU-1963)
01/07/1999
31/07/2001
16
Shri Gubachan Jagat, IPS(PB-1966)
01/08/2001
20/08/2001
17
Dr. R.Rajagopalan, IPS(TN-1965)
20/08/2001
12/01/2002
18
Shri S.C. Chaube, IPS (UP-1966)
13/01/2002
12/02/2002
19
Shri R.S. Mooshahry, IPS (KER-1967)
13/02/2002
07/02/2005
20
Shri A.K.Mitra, IPS(UP-1970)
07/02/2005
27/02/2006
21
Dr. G.S. Rajagopal, IPS(Raj-1971)
01/03/2006
11/08/2006
22
Shri Jyoti Krishan Dutt, (WB-1971)
11/08/2006
28/02/2009
23
Shri N.P.S.Aulakh, IPS(PB-1972)
28/02/2009
31/08/2010
24
Shri Rajan K. Medhkar, IPS(KER_1975)
01/09/2010
30/04/2012
25
Shri Subhash Joshi, IPS(UK-76)
03/05/2012
18/12/2012
26
Shri Arvind Ranjan, IPS(KH-77)
18/12/2012
22/01/2014
27
Shri J.N. Choudaury, IPS (AM-78)
22/01/2014
31/05/2015
28
Shri D.K. Pathak, IPS(AM-79)
03/06/2015
31/08/2016
29
Shri R.C. Tayal, IPS(AM-80)
11/06/2015
31/08/2016
30
Shri G.S. Pandher, IPS (MT-1964)
31/10/1997
08/09/2017
31
Shri K.K.Sharma, IPS (RJ:82)
31/08/2016
28/09/2017
Current DG of NSG Shri Sudhir Pratap Singh


Sunday, 15 January 2017

Special Forces of India Part 3: Special Frontier Force

Hello friends welcome back on this Army Day, I am back with the details of Special Frontier Force. Army Day is celebrated on 15th Of January every year because on 15 January 1949 Lieutenant General K. M. Cariappa took over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief of India. Today we are celebrating 68th Army Day. Following is small clip from today's Army day celebration.


I will be sharing the background of creation of Special Frontier Force (SFF) i.e. why this force was needed? This force works under Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW), therefore not much information is available about this force i.e. about there selection, training role & Operations etc. If you have any problem with the terms in this blog please let me know by comment I will try to explain those words. I will post the meaning of some words in the comment section. So now let's begin with today's topic:


BACKGROUND

After the SinoIndian war and towards the end of 1962, after hectic lobbying by Intelligence Bureau (IB), government of India ordered the raising of an elite commando unit and specialised mountain divisions primarily composed of Tibetan resistance fighters. Chushi Gangdruk (Chushi Gangdruk "Four Rivers, Six Ranges" is the name traditionally given to the eastern Tibetan region of Kham where the gorges of the Salween (Tib. Ngul-chu), Mekong (Da-chu), Yangtze (Dri-chu) and Yalong (Dza-chu) rivers, all arising on the Tibetan Plateau, pass between six parallel ranges of mountains that form the watersheds for these rivers) leaders were contacted for recruitment of Khampas into this new unit. An initial strength of 5000 men, mostly Khampas were recruited at its new Mountain Training Facility at Chakrata, Dehradun.

The SFF made its home base at Chakrata, 100 km from the city of Dehra Dun. Chakrata was home to the large Tibetan refugee population and was a mountain town in the foothills of the Himalayas. Starting with a force of 12,000 men, the SFF commenced six months of training in rock climbing and guerrilla warfare. The Intelligence agencies from India and the US also helped in raising the force; namely CIA & RAW. The SFF's weapons were all provided by the US and consisted mainly of M1, M2 and M3 machine guns. Heavy weapons were not provided.

The force was Established under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister. the unit under the operational command of IB (Intelligence bureau)  and later R&AW (Research & Analysis Wing), was designated the Special Frontier Force (SFF), and was primarily used for conducting clandestine intelligence gathering and commando operations along the Chinese Theatre. Initial training was conducted by the CIA paramilitary officers and the IB's own special operations unit. In 1968 SFF, with the help of the Aviation Research Centre which provided airlift facilities, became fully airborne qualified and a dedicated mountain and jungle warfare unit.

During this period, the Indian government also formed the Ladakh Scouts and the Nubra Guards paramilitary force on similar lines. Many SFF members are Gorkha Rifles members due to their bodies being able to perform much better in high altitudes against others. SFF was later incorporated in the Special Services Bureau (SSB) of R&AW. By late 1963, inter-service rivalry led to severe criticism by the Indian Army. To prove that the SFF's worth, the Inspector General sent 120 men from the SFF for a field exercise, codenamed Garuda, with the Army. The exercise proved to be a dramatic success for the SFF and the Army was now less inclined to criticise the force. In 1964, the SFF led by the Inspector General, began its airborne training at Agra. The SFF then began its own airborne training program at Sarsawa airbase near Saharanpur. By the late 1960s, the SFF was organised into six battalions for administrative purposes. Each battalion, consisting of six companies, was commanded by Tibetan who had a rank equivalent to a lieutenant colonel in the Army. A Tibetan major or captain commanded each company, which was the primary unit used in operations. Females also participated in the force and they were in the signal and medical companies. During this time, the SFF was never used against its intended enemy, China. However, the unit did conduct limited cross-border reconnaissance operations, as well as highly classified raids to place sensors in the Himalayas to detect Chinese nuclear and missile tests.

Special Frontier Force Badge

Functions / ROLE of r&AW

Since the force work under R&AW, the object of the force may be considered similar to R&AW. The present R&AW objectives include, and are not limited to:
  • Monitoring the political, military, economic and scientific developments in countries which have direct bearing on India's national security and the formulation of its foreign policy.
  • Moulding international public opinion and influence foreign governments with the help of the strong and vibrant Indian diaspora.
  • Covert Operations to safe guard India's National interests.
  • Anti – Terror Operations and neutralising terror elements posing a threat to India.

In the past, following the Sino-Indian war of 1962 and due to India's volatile relations with Pakistan, R&AW's objectives had also consisted the following:
  • To watch the development of international communism and the schism between the two big communist nations, the Soviet Union and China. As with other countries, both these powers had direct access to the communist parties in India.
  • To control and limit the supply of military hardware to Pakistan, from mostly European countries, America and more importantly from China.