Date:02/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/02/stories/2008120257370100.htm

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State seeks NSG unit for Bangalore

Special Correspondent

All major parties put up a united front, to go to Delhi as a team

State seeks two more India Reserve Battalions
Deshpande, Kumaraswamy attend meeting

BANGALORE: Karnataka has sought a unit of the National Security Guards (NSG) to be based in Bangalore apart from a meeting of Chief Ministers to discuss security measures in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks.

At the end of a marathon meeting with leaders of major political parties held here on Monday, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said the State Government had decided to take an all-party team to New Delhi to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and impress upon him the need for an NSG unit in Bangalore.

Interestingly, the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular), which had refused to be part of all-party delegations to New Delhi in the past, have agreed to be a part of the delegation to seek a NSG unit for the State.

The Chief Minister announced the constitution of Internal Security Wing comprising around 750 personnel of the State police to be headed by an officer of the rank of Additional Director-General of Police (ADGP). The four wings, Anti-Terrorist Cell, Anti-Naxal Force, Coastal Security Force and a section of the State Intelligence — would be brought under the Internal Security Wing.

The all-party meeting decided to urge the Centre to sanction two more India Reserve Battalions for the State. One battalion is at Munirabad in Koppal district. A State Security Commission would be constituted under the leadership of Home Minister V.S. Acharya. The State had an average of just 92 police personnel for every one lakh people. The Government had decided to substantially increase the police force by virtue of which there would be at least 150 policemen for every one lakh people.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly M. Mallikarjun Kharge, the former Chief Minister and Janata Dal (S) State unit president H.D. Kumaraswamy, KPCC president R.V. Deshpande, BJP State unit president D.V. Sadanada Gowda, and BJP general secretary and MP H.N. Ananth Kumar and several Ministers and top officials attended the meeting.

Bangalore’s importance

The Chief Minister in a letter to the Prime Minister has also suggested that a meeting of the Chief Ministers of the States affected or likely to be affected by terror activities be summoned. “You are aware of the economic and global importance of Bangalore, which houses a large number of Defence organisations, prestigious research and development institutions, well-known information technology and biotechnology units. Hence, Bangalore needs the immediate attention of the Centre in the matter of enhancing the security level.”

Mr. Yeddyurappa said in the light of what happened in Mumbai, the Union and the State governments had to work jointly and closely in the matter of internal security and fighting the menace of terrorism.