Air wing for NSG could have saved precious time

New Delhi: Had the government heeded the National Security Guard (NSG) proposal for a separate air wing for it, the paramilitary force could have reached Mumbai much faster and may have saved a few more lives in the process.
Since the NSG is mandated to take part in commando operations anywhere in the country, it had asked the home ministry three years ago to procure at least two aircraft for it so that its crack anti-terrorist team could reach the spot directly from its Manesar (Haryana) base.
But the government did not find merit in the proposal and deemed the current system of getting aircraft from the Air Force and Aviation Research Centre (ARC) of RAW good enough.
The system, however, did not work this time with NSG commandos losing a crucial two-and-a-hours before boarding a plane (IL-76) to Mumbai.
It is clear from the sequence of events on Wednesday night that the Quick Reaction Team (QRT) of NSG got ready within the mandated 30 minutes from the first call (at 11 pm) it received from the home ministry. The team, however, had to travel to Delhi airport by road, taking one hour. Unfortunately, the commandos had to wait for another one-and-a-half hours (till 2 am) at the airport before taking off for Mumbai as the IL-76 was to reach Delhi from Chandigarh and the ARC's aircraft was unavailable due to some technical snag.
Since most of the hostages were killed by terrorists in Taj and Oberoi hotels before the NSG commandos arrived, it is clear that some lives could have been saved had they not wasted so much time.
The force had, in fact, got the message from the home ministry at 11 pm -- one-and-a-half hours after the terrorists struck Mumbai. The ministry had got the state's request for commandos only at 11pm when the chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh finally grasped the enormity of the situation -- an indication of how poor coordination between Centre and states can play with the lives of people.
Dutt, while addressing media on the occasion of welcoming his commandos here for their successful operations in Mumbai, said the force generally requisitions private jets for counter-hijack operations but for the Mumbai operations, an IL-76 transport plane was used.
30/11/08 Times of India

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Safety Dec 2008