National

Commando units for all major cities likely

NEW DELHI: The Centre is considering a move to station specialised anti-terror crack commando units in all major cities of the country, Special Secretary (Internal Security) M. L. Kumawat said here on Friday.

The move comes in the wake of serial terror attacks in Mumbai when elite National Security Guards (NSG) commandoes were airlifted to the city from Delhi. Mr. Kumawat said that some time taken as aircraft had to be arranged and the commandoes had to be transported to the places where terrorists had taken positions.

“All this takes time. If we take into account the flying time of nearly three hours to cities like Chennai, then it will be losing out precious moments where each minute counts. We may have commando units stationed in each of the major cities and we are considering this move,” he told journalists .

The government is also considering a proposal to purchase C-130 J Hercules all weather, all terrain transport aircraft and negotiations with the American major Boeing have already begun, Defence Ministry sources said.

Meanwhile, Shipping Road Transport and Highways Minister T. R. Baalu has ordered a special audit of port security in all the major ports of the country .

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