CHANDIGARH: The National Security Guards have been withdrawn from Punjab following their virtual failure to match Sikh militants,
The NSG is a well-trained elite force raised by the Government of India to meet the security requirements of important politicians facing threats to their lives from militant groups. The force enjoys considerable freedom from laws ordinarily applied to other outfits.
Thus six companies of the NSG were deployed on June 24 at Harike, Khemkaran and Valtoha to fight militants. After a month these forces were shifted Sri Hargobind Pur, Qadian and Fatehgarh Churian in Batala district.
There were in all six encounters between the NSG and the Sikh militants during the former’s deployment in Tarn Taran area. In these encounters, four militants were killed near Jhabbal on August 2 and two near Valtoha on July 6. The NSG lost two of their Jawans. There were four other causalities among the NSG.
A senior police officer has been quoted as saying that the NSG proved a white elephant. Their performance in Punjab this time was dismal. The NSG failure is attributed to lack of ground realities and absence of coordination with other forces.
Delhi, according to earlier media reports, was quite dissatisfied with the NSG performance and had indicated its desire to withdraw the outfit. The threat has now been quietly carried out.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 21, 1990
