Force-1 Battalion to be ready by October

The Force-1 Battalion that is undergoing rigorous training to combat terrorism, at the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), Pune, will be ready for action by the first week of October, Force-1 Battalion deputy inspector general of police S Jaganathan said. After the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the state government sanctioned a strength of 350 policemen for preparing a battalion that will be ready to face any challenge posed by terrorists in Maharashtra. The benchmark prescribed for forming such a battalion was on the lines of National Security Guard (NSG) and thus, the training course was prepared in consultation with the NSG, army officers and international training agencies. The Battalion comprises 250 fighters and 100 supporting staff, including drivers, wireless operators and policemen at the main control room and armouries. Jaganathan said a committee of top police officers, headed by him, had visited the range police headquarters in Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, Nashik and Nagpur to select men for this battalion. “The committee selected thousands of policemen, including constables, up to 28 years of age, subinspectors up to 32 years of age and inspectors up to 42 years of age, on the basis of merit,” he added. After selection, these men had to undergo a fitness test which required them to run for 2.5 km with a rifle and loaded sacks, do a certain number of pull-ups, push-ups and sit-ups within a stipulated period of time. “The 400 policemen who were found fit were included in the battalion,” Jaganathan explained, adding that this battalion is the elite force of policemen in the state. “In the first phase of training, these policemen were given rigorous training to improve their physical fitness, endurance, alertness and basic firing skills. Of these men, 200 were again shortlisted for a special four-month-long commando force training,” Jaganathan said. After completion of their training, the battalion will be based at Force-1 Headquarters in Mumbai so that it can be pressed into service in case of an emergency. The Battalion will be divided into four groups and one of these will be ready to move within five minutes of an emergency call. Each group will have its own mobility,” Jaganathan said. The Battalion will be equipped with the latest weapons, bulletproof jackets, communication systems, vehicles and other important equipment.

Force One snippets

Force One — the initiative of the Maharashtra Police to create a new first-response unit for handling any terror attacks, planned siege or hijack bids — has entered its second crucial stage with the selected personnel ready to undergo preparatory training. The selection process was based on guidelines designed by the National Security Guard (NSG), and around 450 Mumbai police candidates for Force One, drawn from Pune, Nashik, Aurangadbad and Nagpur, have been shortlisted. The selections are for various levels, constables to inspectors. They include personnel of the State Reserve Police Force. The selection criteria included various physical tests including a 2.4-km run carrying complete gear and equipment weighing up to 10 kg, push-ups and other endurance exercises. The 450 candidates will now leave for Pune, where they will have to undergo a stringent three-week preparatory training, after which the final Force One unit will be shortlisted based on performance.
The state will merge the existing Quick Response Team with the units of Force One. Meanwhile, the state is still looking for a place to base the Force One units. The preparatory training will take place at SRPF unit in Pune and at the training grounds at Wadachi Wadi. Regular training, among many things, will focus on endurance, physical and tactical, with emphasis on firing and counter attack. The maximum age for entry to the unit 25 years for constabulary while it is 30 years for inspectors, with at least five years of service. The training module will rely heavily on security experts, retired army and NSG officials, and others having a commando background.
“We are waiting for many modalities to be worked out and for the decision to be taken on the place where Force One units will be based. At this stage, we are working on a team that will be able to tackle a crisis situation in the worst of pressure situations,” says S Jagannathan, additional commissioner incharge of Force One.