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India's elite special forces withdraw 600 black cat commandos from VIP security duty

Xinhua, February 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

India's elite special forces, called the National Security Guard, has withdrawn 600 of its commandos from VIP security duty to deploy them for anti-terror operations, sources said Monday.

"This is for the first time that the National Security Guard has taken such a step to pull out the black cat commandos -- referred to because of their black dress -- from VIP security detail," the sources said.

The elite special forces were raised in 1984 after the assassination of India's first woman Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for combating terrorist activities with a view to protect states against internal disturbances.

Though the commandos are meant for anti-terror operations and providing security to very high-risk individuals facing threat from terrorists, they are regarded by some as having been misused by many politicians as status symbol. Endit