New Delhi: The burning of a senior officer’s car at the Chennai campus of the National Security Guard (NSG) in November triggered a series of developments that pointed to disquiet within the force, with some officers describing the atmosphere at the hub as “extremely toxic”.
On 1 January, a group of officers from the hub wrote to the NSG Director General, seeking intervention to address what they termed “ensuing hostility”. The officers’ letter surfaced on social media but officials maintained that the situation had already been addressed internally.
According to sources, the unease stemmed largely from events during the police probe into the burning of the Group Commander’s vehicle. During the probe, a few officers were questioned and their residences searched.
The searches, sources said, became a flashpoint, with some officers expressing resentment over the police action and describing the atmosphere at the hub as “toxic”. In their letter, the officers said the incident had led to “extreme mistrust” among officers and troops, “hampering operational efficiency and leading to an erosion of command”.
They also urged the NSG Director General to depute a team of senior officials to independently examine the root cause of the incident and help restore normal functioning.
According to sources in the security establishment, a senior officer of Inspector General-rank visited the Chennai hub on 7 January to interact with personnel, address grievances, and “settle the issue”. But the subsequent leak of the letter gave the episode “a different twist and colour”.
“Some officers were upset that their homes were searched and that they were questioned in connection with the Group Commander’s vehicle. Although the police were carrying out an independent investigation, there was a perception among certain officers that the searches were ordered internally,” a source said. Adding, “The matter was clarified after a senior officer visited the hub and spoke to the personnel. In fact, the officers conveyed that they would cooperate fully with the police investigation.”
The source further said the letter was leaked well after the matter had been addressed. “That issue was settled in January itself. The letter surfaced weeks later and appears to have been leaked by someone disgruntled.”
Although an FIR was registered in the matter, the police have not yet been able to identify the person responsible for setting the vehicle on fire.
Investigators suspect the act may have been carried out by someone from within the campus, given that the NSG regional hub is a high-security zone with restricted access. “No civilian can enter the premises and carry out such an act. It is likely to be someone from the campus, but no evidence has been found so far to make any arrests,” a second police source said.
The NSG has also initiated an internal inquiry into the incident.
“Since this was an act of arson, it was appropriate for the police to investigate. Accordingly, they were informed. The NSG Director General also wrote to the Director General of Tamil Nadu Police, requesting that the investigation be expedited and the perpetrators brought to book. The investigation is ongoing, and full cooperation is being extended to the police,” said one of the sources cited earlier.
ThePrint reached the NSG and Tamil Nadu Police for comment but had not received an official response by the time of publication. The report will be updated if and when a response is received.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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