NSG chief left red-faced after wrong claim on defusing IED

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 23

National Security Guard Director General RC Tayal here today faced a piquant situation when he claimed the force had defused an IED at the high-security DRDO Bhawan even as the defence body issued a contrary statement mentioning that three 120-mm World War II shells were found.

It also said the shells, recovered on April 14, were not found at the high-security DRDO Bhawan, but at another facility in Delhi.

Speaking to the media at the inauguration of a new building for NSG’s anti-hijacking unit, an event where Home Minister Rajnath Singh was also present, Tayal hailed the NSG bomb disposal squad as “number one”, saying “his men defused the IED when no other agency could handle the situation”.

However, a daily report by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) stated that it wasn’t an IED, but three World War II shells were recovered. Tayal later issued a statement confirming the MHA’s report.

"On April 14, during some excavation work at DRDO's Metcalfe House in north Delhi's Kashmere Gate area, an unexploded ordnance was found in the form of a 120-mm artillery shell. Two empty shells were also found alongside. NSG was asked to look into it and we carried those shells using our total containment vessel to Manesar where they were eventually demolished," read Tayal's second statement.

A NSG officer also added the excavation work was taking place outside DRDO's Metcalfe House.

Meanwhile, the Home Minister at the inauguration said the government would take all steps to strengthen the NSG by providing better infrastructure and weapons.

"I will make efforts to see that your infrastructural needs are met... Any special force like NSG needs special training and some very sophisticated equipments. The Home Ministry will take all steps to strengthen NSG," Rajnath said.