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NSG warns of multi-city terror attacks in India
Shaurya Karanbir Gurung
Tribune News Service

ISIS, al-Qaeda threat It is more than a possibility that ISIS and al-Qaeda may find allies in similar organisations such as Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Indian Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba…we have to prepare for multi-city, multiple terror attacks. — JN Choudhury, nsg director general

New Delhi, October 16
The country’s primary counter-terror organisation — the National Security Guard (NSG) — is preparing itself for possible simultaneous terrorist attacks in multiple cities. The NSG today said global terror outfits such as the ISIS and al-Qaeda were joining hands to launch and perpetrate “multi-city, multiple attacks” on India.

NSG Director General JN Choudhury said: “It’s more than a possibility that these terror groups may find allies in similar organisations such as Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Indian Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba, which already have a presence in India.”

He said there was apprehension of al-Qaeda doing a combined strategy or a combined operation. “We have to prepare for multi-city, multiple terror attacks,” he added. His remarks came on the sidelines of NSG’s 30th Raising Day at Manesar today.

Quoting past incidents of al-Qaeda’s presence in India, Choudhury said there were at least three cases when operatives of the terror outfit came to Goa, Bangalore and Amritsar many years ago for reconnaissance.

“The next step after recce is action and we should not be complacent,” the DG said, adding that India faces a danger of suicide attacks.

The NSG is working closely with the anti-terrorist units of state police forces and has been training the state police counter terror units for better coordination, gaining adequate intelligence and a clear definition of the role of each force during a terrorist attack, said Choudhury.

In the past three years, the NSG has trained 5,480 state police and Central Armed 

Police Force (CAPF) personnel. The NSG conducts commando, VIP security, VIP driving, bomb disposal and special operations in jungle training for the capacity building of the state police and CAPFs. Following the 26/11 attacks, the NSG has worked on its mobility to reach a “trouble spot faster”. The NSG has strengthened its four hubs located at Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata. We have increased our strength and put more infrastructure and training facilities,” said the DG.