Terror attack: NSG alerts commandos for new challenge

New security drills to be launched

PTI | February 15, 2012



The NSG has alerted all its commando squads guarding VVIPs and will soon bring out new security drills following the recent terror attack on an Israeli embassy vehicle using a stealthily stuck bomb device on its rear.

"We have already alerted our people (guarding VVIPs) that this is what has most likely happened and immediate action we have taken...but this is not enough. We have to really study it (the February 13 incident here) and make a standard operating procedure so that everybody acts in a uniform way (during such an attack)," NSG Director General R K Medhekar said on the sidelines of a 'bomb data' seminar at the forces' garrison in Manesar .

The elite 'black cats' of the National Security Guard (NSG) secure 15 VIPs/VVIPS at present.

"Since we are protecting very important, very vulnerable targets, we are working on modifying our SOPs to handle this (sticking bomb act) also...both in terms of preventing and should it happen... We are able to gather data on what happened... We are looking into it," Medhekar said.

The DG said that the NSG 'black cat' commandos on VVIP duties have already enhanced their security responses as soon as they were informed about the incident.

"In fact the moment it happened we had a little bit of brainstorming in our own headquarters and we are working out how atleast we will try to prevent such a thing from happening (for NSG protectees)," the NSG chief said.

The wife of an Israeli diplomat, travelling in an Innova car, was severely injured while three others suffered minor injuries in the incident which happened after a bike borne unidentified person stuck a magnetic bomb device in the embassy car as it waited on a traffic signal in the highly secure area of the national capital, close to the Prime Ministers residence.

The DG said his force has mutually shared a lot of information on counter-terror and counter-hijack operations and strategic drills during the last year ministerial level meet with a high-level Israeli delegation.

"They have shared a lot of things which I cannot discuss.

The very fact that their minister-level delegation which came last year to India, is important. The delegation was led by the Israeli Minister for Public Safety, who is an ex-commando himself, and included his military adviser.... They had an one-to-one meet with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.

"For us, what was very significant was that they insisted on a visit to Manesar (NSG garrison where commandos are based) and have discussions with us....They discussed issues on counter-terrorism and counter-hijacking. The (Israeli) Minister himself spent two hours with us," the NSG chief said.

While inaugurating a multi-country conference on 'emerging trends of terrorism in India with special emphasis on defeating IED attacks', Medhekar said that the recent Israeli SUV bomb incident was an innovative act by the perpetrators of terror.

"The car bomb incident that occurred in our capital city on February 13 when a diplomat's vehicle was targeted apparently by a motorcyclist bomber who attached a bomb to the vehicle is indicative of the innovation that the terrorist adopts," he said while addressing delegates from Russia, UK and France including from various investigation, intelligence and security forces of the country.

DG Medhekar, while addressing the conference, said indigenous methods have to be developed to combat security and terror threats.

"Most internal security threats that the country is facing today are either sponsored, guided, inspired or even supported directly by external forces with links to sleeper cells within our country or by home grown movements. We need to gear up to face the challenges that exist and those which can manifest themselves in the future. We cannot wish away such threats nor overly depend on external assistance in facing these challenges," he said.

Comments

 

Other News

Who checks the books?

I read about the news about the Coimbatore library over coffee this morning. On the face of it, the headline was about a political ‘war’ between the DMK and TVK. But what stayed with me was something much more important than the blame game behind what had transpired. A writer walking through

Development paradox: Falling poverty miracle and an inequality problem

India’s reduction in poverty over the past decade is a development achievement of considerable significance. The World Bank’s April 2026 ‘India Development Update’ estimates that the share of Indians living below the international extreme-poverty line of $3.00 per person per day i

In Arunachal, a river we call mother

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang is not just a river. For many of us, especially the Adi people, it is part of our family. Our grandparents fished in it. Children learned to swim in it. Our farms drink from it. When someone says a huge dam will be built on it, we do not hear the word "project".

A new retelling of the Mahabharata delves into key moments

In a time when every decision carries consequences and questions of ambition, power, loyalty, identity and moral choice continue to shape our lives, Dr. Arun Krishnan’s new book, ‘Mahakshana’ (Penguin India) offers a strikingly relevant retelling of the Mahabharata.  

Cabinet approves viability gap funding to develop grid-scale energy storage systems

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Development of Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems, with a total financial support of Rs.14,500 crore for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. The scheme aims to support the development o

Cabinet creates a pathway to absorb Agniveers in Defence Forces

An objective assessment in terms of organisational requirements and operational efficiency has brought out the outstanding performance of Agniveers in terms of skills, motivation levels, physical fitness and technological prowess. As envisaged earlier, based on merit, 25% of Agniveers will be offered reg

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter