Local police units should be trained on NSG pattern: Ex-Air Chief

Kolkata, Oct 4 (IANS) State police forces should have a component trained on the lines of National Security Guard as local intelligence is important in combating terrorism, former Chief of the Air Staff Arup Raha said here on Wednesday.

"Every police force should have a small component of its own, trained on the lines of National Security Guard, to be the first respondents in any contingency," Air Chief Marshal Raha (retired) said.

He said local police would be "much better informed" and have "better intelligence about the local conditions" than a specialised force that is out-stationed even though it (the force) has regional hubs.

"Knowledge of local intelligence and conditions is extremely important in tackling terror attacks," he said.

To commemorate NSG's 33 years of service to the nation, a motorcycle expedition was flagged off on September 7, at Manesar in Gurugram by Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju.

Covering approximately 7,000 km across 13 states, the expedition comprises 32 NSG commandos with 15 bikers. It was in Kolkata on Wednesday after passing through Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad.

Referring to his recent conversation with Kolkata Police officials, Raha said the idea of having a police force trained on lines of NSG should be carried forward.

After the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, NSG regional hubs have been created at Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Ahmedabad to deal with terrorism.

Set up in 1984 as a Federal Contingency Deployment Force under the Ministry of Home Affairs, the NSG tackles all facets of terrorism in the country.

The NSG commandos, commonly referred to as the 'Black Cats', are volunteers from various army and central armed police force units, who undergo an extremely challenging selection process at Manesar and only those found fit are introduced into the force.