No takers for Israel-trained CISF commandos

NEW DELHI: Trained six years ago for the specific purpose of guarding VIPs so that the elite National Security Guard could be engaged in more critical work, the 2,400 commandos of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) are busy guarding ‘VIP buildings’ instead.

The National Democratic Alliance government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee had engaged Israeli commandos to train the CISF personnel. A CISF batch even went to Israel to get training.

The problem began when the government wanted to replace the Black Cats, as the NSG commandos are popularly known, with CISF commandos. Political heavyweights refused to let go of the men deployed to guard them.

There being no takers for them, the CISF men were then formed into quick reaction teams (QRTs) and deployed at several nuclear installations, airports, and the Delhi Metro.

"We are only guarding 33 politicians and VIPs," a senior CISF officer said on the condition of anonymity. "Most commandos trained to guard VIPs have been posted at vital installations. If the government decides to give us the charge of protecting important people, we will pull our commandos back and redeploy them accordingly."

Some important people who enjoy CISF protection include Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh and former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

The CSIF officer said it was the force's mandate and not that of the NSG to guard VIPs: "We have already started recruiting more men into the force and its strength will increase by around 15,000. But the decision to deploy these men for VIP duty is for the government to take."