The National Security Guard and the Central Industrial Security Force were both left without permanent commanding powers on Wednesday after their chiefs retired. CISF Director General Surender Singh and NSG Director General RC Tayal both retired after serving in their posts for more than a year. They were both part of the 1980 batch of the Indian Police Service, PTI reported.
While the Centre has yet to announce their successors, the Home Affairs Ministry said in a statement that Director General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Krishna Chaudhary will serve as the acting head of the CISF in an additional capacity. Director General of the Border Security Force KK Sharma will head the NSG temporarily.
The two central forces are left without leading authorities at a time when terror-related incidents are on the rise, especially along the border where NSG personnel are deployed. Ministry officials said they had shortlisted four candidates for the two positions, but the Narendra Modi-headed Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has not made a decision yet.
The NSG is India's counter-terrorism force, deployed in cases such as hijacking of flights or terror attacks. The CISF ensures security at 59 civilian airports in India, in addition to standing guard at important infrastructure such as nuclear and aerospace facilities.
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