Israeli car blast: NSG was not approached for blast probe, says DG

Although the National Security Guards (NSG) were on standby to assist investigations into last Monday's explosion in an Israeli Embassy vehicle in Delhi, it had not been approached by the Delhi police on the matter.

"Investigations into the blast is the responsibility of the state police. We are there to analyse the data at our National Bomb Data Centre. We were available, but the state police did not approach us," NSG Director General RK Medhekar told newsmen in Badu when asked why the NSG was kept out of the investigations.

He said the NSG had trained 12 teams of the Delhi police in detection and disposal of explosives among other things "and may be, they can do the work by themselves."

Medhekar, who was speaking after the inauguration of the NSG's 24-acre hub here by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, said the organisation was in the process of getting another 34 acre from the West Bengal government at nearby Rajarhat for setting up additional facilities.

Once the new facility became operational, the strength of personnel would be increased from the present 241 to 460, he said, adding that further expansion of facilities could be planned if more land was made available.

The two facilities would be developed into a 'mini regional hub' to cater to the needs of the eastern and north-eastern states, he said.

Infrastructure like simulated firing range would be installed here immediately, while combat-level firing range would be set up within four months, Medhekar said.