New Delhi: Hailing the National Security Guards (NSG) as an elite counter-terrorism
force, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani on October 16 announced 25 per cent increase
in the emoluments of its personnel and assured that the lacunae in respect of its
logistics and manpower would be eradicated.
"There may be some lacunae in terms of the weaponry or manpower but it will be
eliminated", Advani said addressing the officers and troops of the "Black Cat
Commandos" on the 18th Raising Day at New Delhi.
"Some people may be thinking that there is more danger in the force but not much
returns," he said, adding "so the government had decided to raise the emoluments of
the personnel by 25 per cent".
Advani also hoped the Urban Development Ministry would consider a request of the NSG
to provide it land in Delhi for setting up its training centre close to Delhi
airport, by shifting it from Manesar in Haryana.
Advani made the announcement after NSG director general R S Mooshahary said that the
force had 20 per cent deficiency in its manpower.
He also said that he had written to the Urban Development Ministry to allot it land
in Delhi, as it wanted to be near the Delhi airport for strategic reasons.
Mooshahary also said that the force was in the process of acquiring more
sophisticated weaponry.
On the occasion, Advani also handed over a cheque of Rs 10 lakh from Gujarat
government to the wife of NSG commando Subedar Suresh Chand who was killed in the
operation to flush out terrorists from Akshardham temple on September 24.
A Rs 3 lakh cheque, given by the temple committee, was also handed over by Advani.
Earlier, the action of the commandos at the Akshardham temple was replayed in a mock
drill, detailing how the operation was undertaken.
Significantly, the drill was carried out by the same commandos who undertook the
operation, except for the one killed in the action and another injured in that.
The "Black Cats" also demonstrated an anti-hijacking operation, displaying how
hostages aboard a hijacked plane were freed and terrorists neutralised.
PTI
