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Chidambaram launches NSG hub in Chennai
Union Home Minister P.
Chidambaram interacts with NSG commandos after
inaugurating the National Security Guards
regional hub in Chennai on Wednesday. Others
from left are T. Rajendran, Chennai City Police
Commissioner and N.P.S. Aulakh, DG, NSG.
CHENNAI: National Security Guards (NSG) hubs
will come up all over the country as the
government was keen on raising the level of
preparedness enabling it to respond swiftly and
decisively to terrorist attacks, Home Minister
P. Chidambaram said here. Launching the NSG hub
in Chennai on Wednesday, he said special forces
of the Army and the Border Security Force would
be used to set up hubs in Jodhpur and Guwahati.
While there was no specific threat of any
terrorist attack, the objective of creating NSG
hubs was to enable commandos to reach any scene
of disturbance quickly. Mr. Chidambaram said in
case of any emergency the hub in Chennai would
serve not only Tamil Nadu but also nearby areas
. The hub located at the Police Training College
in Ashok Nagar would move to its permanent base
at Nedungundram in Kancheepuram district, by
November. “Deputy Chief Minister M.K.
Stalin has agreed to expedite formation of a
road in the area which will facilitate NSG teams
to reach the Chennai airport in 12 minutes. The
State police can seek the assistance of the NSG
in the event of [a] terror threat or attack,” he
said.
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Joint exercises
The Home Minister said the NSG hub would also be a
training ground for the State police. “The level
of the training would be the same. In fact, they [the
NSG and State police] can be trained together. Police in
Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh can also avail of
the training facility,” Mr. Chidambaram said. He said
other plans on the security front would be finalised
based on the funds allotted for internal security in the
budget.
NSG Director General N.P.S. Aulakh said the regional
hubs were a step towards achieving operational
efficiency in combating terrorism. However, he
added that a coordinated response by all State
authorities was essential for tackling terrorism
successfully. “We look forward to sustained
coordination with the agencies in our endeavour to
counter terror and foster a peaceful environment. This
can be achieved by integrating [the] resources and
skills available and [by] mutual cooperation,” he said.
He thanked the State for allotting 85 acres of land free
of cost at Nedungundram
