NSG to impart training to Tripura cops

Agartala, Nov 30 (UNI) As part of internal security management Tripura police has decided to send two contingent of Tripura State Rifles (TSR) on special training under National Security Guard (NSG) in first week of December and February.

Talking to media here last night, Director General of Tripura Police Pranay Sahaya said, with the recent terrorist activities across the country the state authority has decided to impart anti-terrorism training to the selected TSR personnel.

Mr Sahaya said that the state government had decided to set up Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and Inspector General of armed forces of Tripura was asked to identify them for immediate deployment on strategic locations in the state.

Tripura has as many as 50 NSG trained personnel at present who had received special training for combating terrorism in the state a few years ago.

''We have already contacted NSG Director General J K Dutt and he agreed to impart training to our TSR jawans initially in two batches which will include handling of high-power explosives, modern weapons, mobilise sniffer dogs and composite strike on organised terrorists, Mr Sahaya underlined.

Moreover, two proposals under police modernisation project of Rs 23 Crore were sent to Ministry of Home Affairs besides, regular allocation for vehicles and other gadgets,he said adding intelligence wing of state police was also revamped with senior and efficient officers.

Meanwhile, the state Home department officials here said that the issue was discussed in recently held meeting of DGP and Chief Secretary of Northeastern states with the Union Home Ministry and it was also decided that centre would bear the expenditure for the new initiative.

The ministry has also asked the states to identify some police officers and diligent constables who would be undergoing anti-terrorist training under Special Protection Force while suggested to strengthen their intelligence wings and better coordination between centre and state intelligence as well as among the states of the region.

It had decided to post a senior central intelligence officer in the region to ensure the highest level of co-ordination in intelligence gathering following serial blasts in Agartala and Guwahati and threat of a fresh spurt in militancy, sources stated.

Besides re-orientation of intelligence network in NE states, Centre had assured to use latest technology in all sectors of policing and intelligence gathering and BSF patrolling along Indo-Bangladesh border would be strengthened to prevent trans-border movement of militants, officials said.

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