Andhra to have special force on lines of NSG

Hyderabad, Nov 29 (IANS) The Andhra Pradesh government Saturday decided to form a special force on the lines of the elite National Security Guards (NSG) to deal with terrorist attacks.

It also decided to raise marine security force to guard its nearly 1,000 km long coastline.

The state cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, took these decisions against the backdrop of terrorist attacks in Mumbai, which claimed at least 183 lives.

The proposed force, State Security Guards (SSG), would get training on a par with the NSG. The personnel of Greyhounds, the state's elite anti-Maoist force, and the Organisation to Counter Terrorist Operations (OCTOPUS), will also be provided similar training.

Officials said the chief minister reviwed the security situation and directed that an action plan be prepared to foil Mumbai-type attacks.

Since the terrorists reached Mumbai by sea route, the chief minister said the security along the Andhra Pradesh coast should be stepped up.

The cabinet condemned the terror attacks in Mumbai and hailed the security forces including NSG for eliminating the terrorists.

It observed a two-minute silence as a mark of respect towards policemen and NSG commandos, who laid down their lives while fighting terrorists.