THE GENERAL’S BABY

Things you didn’t know about the Technical Support Division, created by V. K. Singh in 2010

General V. K. Singh created the Technical Support Division in May 2010 after taking over as army chief. Exact mandate unclear but no government sanction existed for it. It was based in the ‘ Butchery’ in Delhi Cantonment and operated under MI- 25, the military intelligence directorate. It was headed by a brigadier.

Comprised around 40 personnel— eight officers and 32 other ranks— spread across India and reporting directly to the army chief through the Directorate of Military Intelligence.

The unit had safe houses in Jammu, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Mumbai and Srinagar.

Utilised secret service funds for its operations including the purchase of two off- air interceptors for allegedly listening in on phone conversations of opponents. Both machines were destroyed early last year, according to IB.

Disbanded in June 2012 after General Bikram Singh took over as new army chief.