SRINAGAR: In a significant shift, the Union Government has ordered the complete withdrawal of the National Security Guard (NSG) from VIP security duties, with nine high-profile individuals, including prominent political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, set to be transferred to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for protection.
Among the affected leaders are Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and current president of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah. Both have long been under the ‘Z-plus’ category security provided by the elite NSG ‘black cat’ commandos, a security arrangement known for its specialised counter-terrorist focus.
As per sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the transition to the CRPF is expected to be completed by next month. The CRPF, which has a dedicated VIP security wing, will now assume responsibility for the protection of these nine individuals, a move that comes as part of a broader restructuring of India’s security apparatus. The CRPF will also take over security for other high-profile figures such as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani.
This development marks the end of over two decades of NSG’s involvement in VIP security, a role the force took on despite its original mandate focusing on counter-terrorism and anti-hijack operations. The Union Government has decided that the NSG’s expertise should be refocused on its core responsibilities, with the intention of stationing strike teams at critical locations such as the Ram temple in Ayodhya and other sensitive sites in the southern region of the country.
Azad and Abdullah, both towering figures in Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape, have long been at risk due to the sensitive nature of their roles in the region’s tumultuous political environment. This transition to CRPF security is expected to maintain their high-level protection, though the elite nature of the NSG’s counter-terrorism capability will no longer be a feature of their security detail.
The restructuring is part of a larger plan initiated in 2012, which recognised the NSG’s growing role in VIP security as a “burden” on its limited manpower. With ongoing threats and the potential for simultaneous terror attacks across multiple locations, the government believes that the NSG’s resources should be directed towards national security and rapid response operations, rather than VIP duties.
The CRPF, which will now guard these leaders, has already established itself as a capable force in protecting high-risk individuals, with six VIP security battalions currently in service. A seventh battalion, previously assigned to Parliament security, will be redeployed to handle the new responsibilities.
This transition has stirred conversations about the security protocols in place for Jammu and Kashmir’s most prominent leaders, particularly given the region’s complex security challenges. Both Azad and Abdullah, having served as chief ministers during tumultuous times, remain significant figures not only in regional politics but also in the broader national context.
As the NSG prepares to mark its 40th raising day, this shift signifies a return to its original mandate of counter-terrorism, freeing up 450 of its highly trained commandos for more specialised tasks. (With PTI inputs)
