India’s true Heroes- Part 4

The forces that are keeping us protected.

We owe a lot to the army and our other armed forces for keeping us safe, but they’re not the only ones who are actively involved. Here’s a look at some other top of the line forces that India has.

1. MARCOS

MARCOS is the special forces unit of the Indian Navy. created for conducting special operations such as Amphibious warfare, Close Quarter Combat Counter-terrorism, Direct action, Special reconnaissance, Unconventional warfare, Hostage rescue, Personnel recovery, Combat search and rescue, Asymmetric warfare, Foreign internal defence, Counterproliferation, Amphibious reconnaissance including Hydrographic reconnaissance. The MCF is specially organised, trained and equipped for the conduct of special operations in a maritime environment. MARCOS is short for Marine Commandos. The force has gradually acquired experience and a reputation for professionalism over the three decades it has been in existence. The MARCOS are capable of undertaking operations in all types of terrain, but are specialised in maritime operations in Jammu and Kashmir through the Jhelum River and Wular Lake, a 65 square kilometre freshwater lake. MARCOS were involved in the operations of 26/11

Some MARCOS personnel are also attached with the Army special forces units conducting counter-terrorism operations in the area. MARCOS are widely feared among the terrorists, who call them “Dadiwala fauj”, meaning the “Bearded army” because of their bearded disguise in civil areas. It is one of only two units in the world to fight in land and sea in full tactical gear, the other one being US Navy Seals

2. Indo-Tibet Border Police and Border Security Force

Both ITBP and BSF are primarily responsible for guarding of India’s borders during peacetime. While ITBP has been specifically deployed to guard the areas bordering with China, the Border Security force covers the borders against Pakistan and Myanmar.

ITBP Ski contingent

Both are the first line of defense in case of a war or threat from across India’s borders .

Presently, battalions of ITBP are deployed on border guard duties from Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Diphu La in Arunachal Pradesh, covering 3488 km of the India-China border. Manned border posts are at altitudes as high as 21,000 feet (6,400 m) in the western, middle & eastern sector of the border with temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees. ITBP is a mountain trained force and most of the officers & men are professionally trained mountaineers and skiers.

The BSF has more recently been given the task in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in Jammu And Kashmir, Punjab, North East. The BSF undertook operations that killed Jaish e mohammed chief Ghazi Baba in 2001.

3. Central Reserve Police Force

CRPF is the largest of India’s Central Armed Police Forces. It functions under the aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of the Government of India. The CRPF’s primary role lies in assisting the State/Union Territories in police operations to maintain law and order and counter insurgency.

It’s most active roles involve assistance in Jammu & Kashmir and fighting the Naxalites in the naxal infested states through it s personnel and its special wing Commando Batallion for Resolute Action (CoBRA). It is also entrusted with protecting the Parliament House through an elite team called, Parliament Duty Group. It was CRPF that foiled the 2001 Parliament attack, for which the mastermind, Afzal Guru was later tried and hanged.

CRPF Commandos are specialized in counter-terrorism, reconnaissance, and sabotage and have the honor of being the most elite among the forces. They undergo extremely rigorous training for years sometimes, before they are ready and when they are done with the training, they can be easily classified as among the toughest and most competent men and women in the forces. They are specialized to carry out covert operations.

4. National Security Guards

The National Security Guard (NSG) was set up in 1984 as a Federal Contingency Deployment Force to tackle all facets of terrorism in the country. As a specialized counter terrorism force, it is intended for use “only in exceptional situations” and not meant to take over the “functions of the State Police Forces or other Para Military Forces” According to the NSG web site it is modeled on Germany’s GSG 9 (Grenzschutzgruppe 9 or “Border Guard Group 9”)

The NSG has taken over dozens of counter terrorist operations throughout their time including the 26/11 and the recent Pathankot attacks

5. Others

Several other forces that are currently involved in protecting the nation

• Central Industrial Security Force- The CISF provides security cover to 300 industrial units and other establishments located all over India. Industrial sectors like atomic power plants, space installations, mints, oil fields and refineries, major ports, heavy engineering, steel plants, barrages, fertilliser units, airports and hydroelectric/thermal power plants owned and controlled by Central Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), and currency note presses producing Indian currency are protected by CISF
• Sashastra Seema Bal- Its present-day role consists of preventing cross-border crime and smuggling as well as other anti-national activities.In pursuit of achieving this mandated task, the SSB has been conferred with certain powers under the Criminal Procedure Code of 1973, the Arms Act of 1959, the NDPS Act of 1985 and the Passport Act of 1967. The Government of India also contemplates conferring additional powers under the Customs Act of 1962.

I hope we all sleep more peacefully knowing who are there looking out for us. Maybe just be a little more thankful knowing the fact that our independence wasn’t just hard fought, its a daily grind for these people who face innumerable odds to maintain it every single day.

#TVI