NSG commandos, on their way to Mumbai to fight terrorists were in for a shock when they found crew of the Aviation Research Centre plane missing.
Elite NSG commandos, on their way to Mumbai to fight terrorists in the early hours of November 27, were in for a rude shock when they found crew of the Aviation Research Centre plane missing.
"I was little surprised ... I thought the crew was there. But they were at their homes. I called up the Aviation Research Centre director around midnight for a plane and he said that it would be ready by 0230 hours after refueling," former NSG chief JK Dutt said.
Dutt, who boarded the plane along with the first batch of 200 black cat commandos said that although there was no delay on NSG's part for a take-off from Delhi, the "commandos had to lift the ammunition and heavy explosive boxes themselves, which also tires out the men."
Dutt said the reports that former Union home minister Shivraj Patil kept the commando flight waiting were unfounded.
"I got a call from the home minister's residence, which said that the Minister wants me to accompany him. I told them that I would like to accompany my men in the same transport plane. They then said that Patil would also come and board the same aircraft... I told them that the huge plane has no air-conditioning and other facilities.
"I reached the Minister's residence at around 0145 hours. By 0220 hours we (me and Patil) boarded the plane and the plane took off at 0230 hours," Dutt said.
He said the crack commandos based at the Manesar garrison were asked to report by 0200 hours as a matter of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
"I was anticipating the events since the time I started viewing the visuals of the attack on Mumbai and hence I asked commandos of the 51 Special Action Group (SAG) to remain prepared even before the orders of sending the NSG were given," Dutt said.
Dutt also said the NSG Act at that time did not permit him to requisition a private passenger plane for "anti-terror operations".
"The NSG Act only allowed the DG to requisition a private aircraft for anti-hijack operations and hence the question did not arise then," Dutt said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}