Srinagar: In Srinagar, where the India has scheduled a G20 working group meeting on tourism, the National Security Guard (NSG), commonly known as Black Cats, and Marine Commandos (MARCOS) have been deployed. The force is a counter-terrorism unit of India under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The presence of the NSG personnel was seen in Lal Chowk area today. On Wednesday, the picturesque Dal Lake also saw MARCOS making several rounds of the famous Dal Lake as part of the acclimatisation process.
While Marine Commandos were getting familiar with the Lake, CRPF men were seen using IED detectors and sniffer dogs along the banks of Dal Lake to ensure road stretch was free from explosives.
The deployment of Marine Commandos in the Lake was made five days ahead of the G-20 event to be held in the SKICC on May 22 to May 24.
This is for the first time that a G-20 meeting will be held in Srinagar under India’s presidency.
“The MARCOS, with their specialized training and state-of-the-art equipment, are well-equipped to handle any challenging situation. Their proficiency in waterborne operations, close-quarter combat, and swift response tactics, makes them an ideal force to maintain the security of Dal Lake, which hosts numerous houseboats, shikaras (traditional Kashmiri boats), and floating markets,” said an official.
It is believed that the visiting foreign delegates may take boat rides in the famous Dal Lake.
Earlier, an official said that NSG along with the special operation group (SoG) of J&K Police will take over the main venue SKICC on Wednesday, while as drones will be pressed into service for “aerial surveillance of the boulevard and the venue.”
At various places in the city, armed forces were seen frisking people and vehicles and a deployment was also intensified ahead of the summit.
