nitesh
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India Today - The most widely read newsweekly in South Asia.
If looks could kill
Delhi, August 22, 2008
The Special Protection Group (SPG)—that exclusively protects the prime minister, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and former prime ministers—unveiled a new sub-unit on Independence Day.
As its 'principal' (bodyguard-speak for the protectee) delivered the traditional address from the ramparts of the Red Fort, the SPG's new counter-assault force stood guard below.
The force is meant to withstand and repel heavy fire assaults even as the SPG's proximate protection whisks the prime minister away to safety. It is equipped with body armour capable of withstanding AK-47 rounds.
The counter-assault force has replaced traditional SPG weapons like the venerable Uzi, MP-5 sub-machine guns and Glock pistols with Belgian arms maker FN Herstal products- the 'Five Seven' pistol, the P-90 submachine gun and FN 2000 Tactical Assault Rifle.
SPG officials say the force, first introduced by the US Secret Service, was specially trained and fielded after threat perceptions of attacks by heavily armed, bulletproof jacket-wearing desperadoes. The 5.7x28 mm armour-piercing ammunition fired by the P-90 pistol can deal with such threats.
In the pipeline are special armoured cars for the force. The SPG will get its own wings-four of 12 VVIP triple-engined helicopters being contracted from Italy's Augusta-Westland at a cost of Rs 110 crore each. Who said protecting the chief executive came cheap.
If looks could kill
Delhi, August 22, 2008
The Special Protection Group (SPG)—that exclusively protects the prime minister, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and former prime ministers—unveiled a new sub-unit on Independence Day.
As its 'principal' (bodyguard-speak for the protectee) delivered the traditional address from the ramparts of the Red Fort, the SPG's new counter-assault force stood guard below.
The force is meant to withstand and repel heavy fire assaults even as the SPG's proximate protection whisks the prime minister away to safety. It is equipped with body armour capable of withstanding AK-47 rounds.
The counter-assault force has replaced traditional SPG weapons like the venerable Uzi, MP-5 sub-machine guns and Glock pistols with Belgian arms maker FN Herstal products- the 'Five Seven' pistol, the P-90 submachine gun and FN 2000 Tactical Assault Rifle.
SPG officials say the force, first introduced by the US Secret Service, was specially trained and fielded after threat perceptions of attacks by heavily armed, bulletproof jacket-wearing desperadoes. The 5.7x28 mm armour-piercing ammunition fired by the P-90 pistol can deal with such threats.
In the pipeline are special armoured cars for the force. The SPG will get its own wings-four of 12 VVIP triple-engined helicopters being contracted from Italy's Augusta-Westland at a cost of Rs 110 crore each. Who said protecting the chief executive came cheap.