The one good thing

A year later, there is hope that if there is a 26/11-like attack again, the response will be immediate and effective. The optimism comes from the 249 men of the country's elite commando force, the NSG, who moved into Mumbai on June 30, 2009, reports Presley Thomas. See graphics

‘Amongst the soul-stirring happenings in India in the year gone by, none stands out with greater poignancy than the NSG's 'Operation Black Tornado' against terrorists in Mumbai.

HT Image

The result-oriented action of the NSG with successes on more fronts than one will reverberate in the corridors of time. The best of NSG unfolded during the operation when the nation and the world watched with bated breath'

- Director General of National Security Guards NPS Aulakh wrote on the National Security Guards (NSG) web site.

A year later, there is hope that if there is a 26/11-like attack again, the response will be immediate and effective.

The optimism comes from the 249 men of the country's elite commando force, the NSG, who moved into Mumbai on June 30, 2009.

It's a force that even Home Minister P Chidambaram thinks instills a sense of security among citizens. Inaugurating the Mumbai hub, Chidambaram had said, "I am happy that I have kept the promise. This will increase the confidence of the people of the country that they are secure."

Former army chief, General V P Malik said, "The NSG hub in various parts of the country would effectively reduce the time commandos would take to reach the spot where there is a problem. It also cuts down bureaucratic hurdles to requisition the force."

These Black Cats are proud to carry the burden of the country's security on their shoulders.

After all, each time their service has been requisitioned they have come up trumps.

Be it neutralising Khalistani militants at the Golden Temple in 1984 or rescuing the hijacked Indian Airlines Boeing 737 in an operation that lasted 12 seconds.

See graphics