A National Security Guard team has collected samples from the site of the blast in Pune that took 11 lives.
The crises of the 21st century, 9/11, the economic meltdown, COVID-19, Russia-Iran war and the Hamas-Israel war seem to be never ending. In this situation, Iran might be contemplating a nuclear deterrent to defend itself, observes Ambassador T P Sreenivasan, the distinguished long-time Rediff contributor who turns 80 on June 17..
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday praised the Indian Army as one of the most trusted and inspiring organisations in the country, highlighting its significant role in safeguarding borders, combating terrorism and assisting civil administration in times of need.
The government proposes to set up a federal investigation agency to deal with cases of terrorism and other pan-Indian crimes. This has so far not found favour with the states which legitimately fear that they will be kept out of sensitive security investigations. There has to be a co-ordinated mechanism to deal with terrorism but co-ordination needs to bring in the states, says Sitaram Yechury
The Mumbai terror attack was an audacious attempt by the Taliban, Al Qaeda and the Lashkar-e-Taiyba combine to shape policies of the three sovereign nations that include the oldest and the largest democracy," Dutt said. But Dutt's remark, which was aired on television, is reported to have not gone down well with the Union Home Ministry officials as it could be seen as sensationalising the attack by bringing in Al Qaeda's name.
Political parties and leaders wait with bated breath for the Haryana and Jammu-Kashmir assembly poll results on Tuesday.
Voters in Muslim-dominated Nuh in Haryana have made the Congress victorious in all three assembly seats in the district, with one of the contestants registering the highest victory margin.
Sources are in touch with Iranian authorities through diplomatic channels, both in Tehran and in Delhi.
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.
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.
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.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Thursday embark on a near two-day meditation exercise at the famed Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari, and the district has come under a thick security blanket following the high profile event.
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.
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.
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.
'A national government will help us to harness the totality of national resources to fight the war against the coronavirus most effectively,' state Lieutenant General Ashok Joshi (retd) and Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).
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 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.
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 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.
The additional director general of police (security), however, said in an order on Friday that the security personnel were 'being withdrawn on a purely temporary basis in connection with an emergent law and order duty'.
Iranian hackers shared unsolicited information they had stolen from former United States President Donald Trump's presidential campaign with people who were associated with President Joe Biden's campaign over the summer, CNN reported, citing federal law enforcement officials.
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.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on Saturday that multiple rocket launches have been identified from Lebanon since the Yom Kippur fast started. Two UAVs were identified crossing from Lebanon into central Israel, according to IDF. A hit on a civilian building was identified and one UAV was intercepted.
The depiction of hijackers of the Indian Airlines flight from Kathmandu to Delhi has kicked off a row with a section of viewers objecting to the 'humane' projection of the perpetrators.
'The greatness of India can be experienced by meeting Indians on the frontiers of India.' 'Every citizen on the border is a soldier'
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.
'If we have to restrict and fight terrorism, first and foremost, we have to ensure communal harmony in the country.'
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.
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.
'The terrorists are using better technology to secure their communication.' 'It does appear that excessive reliance on technology led to a weakening of human intelligence.'
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.
'We have to keep a watch because India-Sri Lanka has a history that whenever there has been a change in government, either the connectivity projects have been questioned or cancelled or revived.'
