NSG writes to SPG to enhance VVIP security skills

NSG commandos, who guard some of the most high-risk VVIPs in the country, are set to sharpen their skills in this domain with the elite force asking the Special Protection Group to audit its performance and share expertise in better securing its protectees.

The counter-terror force which is securing 15 VVIPs at present has asked SPG, which protects the prime minister and his immediate family, to "audit" its functioning and give its commandos some tips to operate in a smarter and swifter manner.

This is the first time the force is getting an assessment done of its VVIP security duties, and, officials said, the idea was mooted by NSG chief Jayanto N Choudhury after he took over the reins of the 'black cats' few months ago.

"SPG which secures the prime minister and his family works under an Act of the Union. They perform their duty of ensuring proximate security to the VVIPs with utmost swiftness.”

“It was felt necessary that NSG needs to learn more and hence, it has written to SPG to assess its functioning in the VVIP security domain," the officials said.

The 'black cats' of the force, at present, guard 15 'Z+' category VVIPs which includes Home Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP patriarch L K Advani, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, her Uttar Pradesh counterpart Akhilesh Yadav, besides Chief Ministers Raman Singh (Chhattisgarh), Parkash Singh Badal (Punjab), Tarun Gogoi (Assam), BSP chief Mayawati, NC President Farooq Abdullah, DMK chief K Karunanidhi and S P chief Mulayam Singh Yadav among others.

The officials said NSG wants to bring its security drills and protocols on par with what is rendered by SPG so that there is a "fool proof" security for its protectees.

"This is a rare collaboration between the two special security units of the country. Under this exchange, which is expected to happen soon, both the forces stand to gain," they said.

They said after the government recently made it clear that no more VVIPs would put under NSG cover, the force is aiming to render the "topmost" level of security to these leaders who move across the country for their public engagements.

"May be some more drills will be added to NSG operating procedures post this interaction," the officials said.

They said as SPG functions under an Act, it has better resources and manpower to render its duties and this is what NSG would want to add as its role differs from that of SPG. 'Black cat' commandos only secure a VVIP during travel and not when he or she is at a location.

A set of new operating procedures has been brought in for VVIP security by the federal contingency force in the aftermath of a political rally of the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in Patna which was rocked by multiple low-intensity blasts in October last year.

NSG, at present, has the least number of VVIPs--15-- to secure and it is now concentrating on its main mandate of counter-terrorist and counter-hijack duties for which it was raised in 1984.