Independence Day was celebrated across states and Union territories on Thursday, as several chief ministers announced job schemes while some others vowed their support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
The 'black cats' will reflect a dashing sheen to the parade as they will be dressed in their trademark black coloured overalls, balaclava headgear and special assault rifles MP-5 along with the iconic commando dagger.
Around 25,000 total of all paramilitary paramedics and doctors will be vaccinated in the first phase.
Vishal Dadlani has taken a stand against the live broadcast of news channels, which exposed the plans of the military and the National Security Guard, as they tried to overwhelm the terrorists and rescue hostages.
The two sniffer dogs of the National Security Guards (NSG) went about their task with diligence for about 15 hours during the encounter in the Nariman House along with their masters -- the commandos-- and are no strangers to life threatening situations.
After the National Security Guard Director General J K Dutt told the media that the Trident Hotel had been sanitised and cleared of terrorists, a spokesperson for the hotel said: "The police and government authorities have allowed us access to the hotel. We were granted permission to begin evacuating guests from the hotel from 2.15 pm on Friday.
More than 35 hours after the terrorists struck, there was a lull in Mumbai on Friday as National Security Guard commandos and security personnel closed in on Nariman House for a final assault and most of the residents chose to stay indoors.
Although the Supreme Court has mandated the Centre to conduct the polls by the end of September, a spate of terrorist attacks in J&K could cause delays.
West Bengal's loss could well be Gujarat's gain. The country's elite counter-terror force National Security Guard has decided to have a large commando base in Gujarat after it failed to set up such a centre in West Bengal.
Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan on Wednesday said that he is deeply pained that a controversy has been raked up over his visit to slain National Security Guard commando Sandeep Unnikrishnan's house in Bangalore.Speaking in the state assembly, he said certain remarks were attributed to him and people have been misled by this.Achuthanandan made the statement in the Assembly during the Zero Hour, after the opposition United Democratic Front members raised the issue.
A hoarding an MNS leader posted in Mahim, north-central Mumbai, to mark the first anniversary of the 26/11 terror attacks, omits National Security Guard commandos Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan and Havaldar Gajendra Singh Bisht who lost their lives battling terrorists at the Taj Mahal hotel and Nariman House respectively.
Two National Security Guards personnel, including an officer, were on Friday were killed and six other commandos injured during operations against terrorists in Mumbai, the first casualties suffered by the elite force during the siege.
The government has not ruled out the possibility of the involvement of a suicide bomber in Mumbai serial blasts, Home Secretary R K Singh said on Thursday.
'They are the ones who should report a suspicion and cannot afford to be casual about anything anymore. People visiting market areas need to re-organise themselves and lessons need to be learnt from incidents like these. It is not fair to point a finger at the police all the time since it is common sense that they cannot be at all places at all times.'
The NSG will work along with the Special Investigation Team and the City Crime Branch.
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the death sentence of the three accused in connection with the Akshardham temple attack case of September 24, 2002 in which 34 persons, including two National Security Guard commandos were killed.
Dr V Maitreyan, leader of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's parliamentary party, on Monday arrived in Delhi with ten Members of Parliament to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram. The group of MPs will seek extra protection by personnel of the elite National Security Guards for AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa, as she has received two threats to her life last week.
The elite Indian counter-terror force National Security Guard celebrated its 25th anniversary at a function in Haryana on Friday. On Friday, the commandos presented a spectacular display of their firepower and skill as they recreated the scene of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
Even though the NIA claims that more than 90 per cent of cases charge-sheeted have ended in conviction, the figure is likely misleading. To date, very few cases investigated by the NIA have resulted in a completed trial, points out former CBI joint director Navneet Rajan Wasan.
It facilitates shooting around corners and over the top of walls, without exposing the person using the pistol, they said.
India will kickstart on Tuesday a two-day multi-agency military exercise covering the country's 7,516 km-long coastline and exclusive economic zone with the twin aim of checking the preparedness of various agencies to deal with any eventualities and bolster overall maritime security, officials said.
The three Army men who were part of NSG's Operation Black Tornado, as the Mumbai anti-terrorist operation was codenamed, are Captain Ryan Chakravarty of Army Ladakh Scouts Regiment serving with 52 Special Action Group of the NSG, Capt Karamjeet Singh Yadav from Army's Regiment of Artillery ARTY/51 SAG, and Subedar S Anthony Samy of Corps of Engineers/Special Warfare School NSG.
United States-based Los Angeles Emergency Operation Centre will train officers of Force One, an elite force formed on the lines of National Security Guard, and Maharashtra disaster management staff.
A National Security Guard commando died of exhaustion during a rigorous exercise at the elite force's garrison in Manesar. AJunior Commissioned Officer, 34-year-old Ratan Lal had recently joined the NSG on deputation from the 6 PARA (Special Forces) of the Army, and was undertaking a battle induction exercise when he collapsed on the training ground.
A major general, who returned to the army from the elite National Security Guards before his term was over, is believed to have been asked by the defence ministry to seek voluntary retirement following charges of abuse of official position during his stint in the commando force.
With about 1,000 acres of land already identified on the outskirts of the city, work on setting up the regional centre of National Security Guards in Mumbai will start in two to three months, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has said."The work on setting up the regional centre of NSG would begin in two to three months as about 1,000 acres of land on the outskirts of the city has already been identified," Chavan said. The State Security Guards would also be set up in three months.
The compulsion behind India and Japan to deepen security cooperation is in response to China's growing political and economic clout and its assertive behaviour in disputed areas. This has been the key driver for bringing both India and Japan closer in the domain of security cooperation, explains Dr Rajaram Panda.
Russia, a longstanding defense partner of India, is reportedly in talks with New Delhi for sale of small arms like sniper rifles, submachine guns and grenade launchers.
One-year-old Maharashtra's elite terror combat unit formed on the lines of National Security Guard is yet to get possession of the land allotted by the government for setting up a base as the dispute with tribals over the property remains unresolved.
The Assam government has submitted written requests to the prime minister and the Union home minister for setting up of a hub of National Security Guard in Guwahati dedicated to the entire north eastern region affected by insurgency. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has submitted separate requests to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram in view of the state's and the region's vulnerability against terror, an official source said.
After getting the power to requisition any aircraft during emergencies, the National Security Guard has got the approval of the Indian Air Force to use its planes to transport commandos for anti-terror duties.
Former Punjab police chief KPS Gill said on Monday that the Mumbai police should have led the counter-offensive during the 26/11 terror attacks.
The Quad also vowed to work towards a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific, a region that has seen increasing Chinese military muscle-flexing in the last few years.
The Home Minister said the country would never forget the supreme sacrifice made by the NSG commandos during the Mumbai terror attacks.
The couple, along with a Chinese, a South African and an Australian national, was rescued from the hotel by the elite National Security Guards late Thursday night.
The Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath this year are likely to witness a number of changes including smaller marching contingents, shorter distance for the parade and fewer spectators compared to the previous years in view of the coronavirus pandemic.
"There are plans to provide helicopters for the mega city policing. So when mega city policing project is complete, mega cities will have helicopters," Chidambaram told reporters after inaugurating the first of the four hubs of elite National Security Guard commandoes in Mumbai.
A National Security Guard commando, who claimed to have been part of the strike team during the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, was arrested in New Delhi along with an accomplice for allegedly indulging in drug trade and 26 kilograms of a banned hypnotic drug with street value of Rs 1 crore seized, police said on Friday.
Cricketers, shaped by diverse journeys from unexpected corners of the country, serve as a testament to the power of unwavering belief.
