Women join elite 'black cat' force

Monday, October 17, 2005 (Manesar):
Over a dozen women have joined the army of the elite National Security Guards, commonly known as the black cats, responsible for fighting terrorism and providing security to VIPs.Usha Bose, one of the trainees, is convinced that she has what it takes to protect VIPs in the highest Z+ category."We were asked to use weapons we have never used before. We went through very hard exercises," she said.Expectations to fulfillThe question is whether Bose and 15 other women commandos like her can live up to expectations.They have been pooled in from para-military forces like the Central Reserve Police Force and Central Industrial Security Force.And the National Security Guard chief believes they will be put to test when they take on their assignments "We have two ladies to protect. Jayalalithaa is one of them. Being a lady, it becomes a bit convenient for them to have lady guards around. As a trial measure, we are also deputing them with Mayawati," said A K Mitra, DGP, NSG.Questions raisedFrom combatting terrorism to providing security to VIPs, the NSG commandoes have come a long way in their 21 years of existence.But with newly included women guards to be deployed to provide security to Mayawati and Jayalalitha, many questions are being raised on the role of NSG commandoes.The most important one is whether they are being reduced to just a security providing agency. The problem is that often the elite black cat commandoes have been seen as status symbols. The government insists a leaner and meaner force will see all that change."If this is happening, it is wrong. It should be used for the reasons that it came into existence for," said Shivraj Patil, Home Minister.So for Usha Bose and her colleagues, these are challenging times as they all line up to assume the mantle of being India's first women commandoes.