The Defence Ministry has rejected a proposal by the Army that a three-star general head the National Security Guards rather than a police officer who,it argued,is unfamiliar with the ethos and functioning of the special para-forces. Army Chief Deepak Kapoor wrote a formal letter to the Defence Ministry as part of militarys suggestions sought by the government on regional hubs for the counter-terror unit after the Mumbai attacks. General Kapoor said that an Army Lieutenant General should head the NSG as most of the force comes on deputation from the Army. The Special Action Group (SAG),responsible for para-commando operations,comprises Indian Army special forces officers and even the Inspector General (Operations),presently Major General A K Gupta,is an infantry officer. As of today,he reports to the NSG Director General J K Dutt,who retires at the end of this month. But the MoD has argued that the NSG should remain under a civilian set-up. Further,the government feels there is no need for any such drastic revamp after the NSGs operations during the Mumbai attacks.
