J.K. Dutt, former Director General of the National Security Guards (NSG) who headed the force during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, passed away on Wednesday due to COVID-19 related complications.
Mr. Dutt was undergoing treatment at the Medanta Hospital in Gurugram. He is said to have suffered a cardiac arrest early Wednesday.
The NSG condoled the death of the 1971 batch IPS officer of the West Bengal cadre who served the force from August 2006 to February 2009.
The NSG said on Twitter, “Sh Jyoti Krishan Dutt IPS, former DG NSG (Aug 2006- Feb 2009) passed away today on 19th May at Gurugram. NSG condoles the sad and untimely demise of former DG and remembers his distinguished service to the nation. He will always be remembered for his leadership during Op Black Tornado (Mumbai 2008). May Almighty rest his noble soul in eternal peace and give strength to his family to bear the loss.”
The Press Trust of India reported that Mr. Dutt was admitted to the Medanta Hospital on April 14 after his oxygen saturation started declining. He is survived by his wife, a son, who works in Noida, and a daughter, who is based in the U.S., the PTI report said.
Mr. Dutt had served the CBI and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
Mr. Dutt, along with about 200 “black cat” commandos, had boarded an IL-76 aircraft of the Aviation Research Centre (ARC) to fly the first batch of the counter-terrorist strike force to Mumbai soon after the western metropolis reported multiple shootouts and public killings in the night of November 26, 2008. The elite force launched “Operation Black Tornado” to kill the 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists who had sneaked into Mumbai through sea route and laid an over 60-hour seige killing 166 people and injuring 300 more, including foreigners.
(With PTI inputs)
