Force One was commissioned in 2009, a year after the dreaded November 2008 terrorist attack, orchestrated by Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives from Pakistan.
Even as the country is witnessing increasing instances of terrorist encounters, Force One – an elite commando force of Maharashtra police to counter terror threat – is being tossed from under one head to another. Since its inception in 2009, the supervisory authority of Force One has changed four times, with the latest just a few months ago. The combat agency now reports to Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad. A day before inauguration of Force One's permanent base on September 1, the agency got its new head.
Force One was commissioned in 2009, a year after the dreaded November 2008 terrorist attack, orchestrated by Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives from Pakistan. Initially, the Force One, then headed by a deputy inspector general (DIG) rank officer, was supervised by the director general of police (DGP) - special operations (Spl Ops). Spl Ops was also heading Anti-Naxal Operations department and Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra. The ATS was being headed by an officer of the rank of inspector general (IG) of police then.
“A few years later, when ATS chief's post got upgraded to the rank of additional director general of police, the Force One was made to come under their ambit. The move was made as the ATS was involved with gathering intelligence on terrorism issues, while Force One's task is to counter terrorist during an on-going attack. Later, post of chief of Force One was also upgraded to the IG rank,” said a senior police officer.
In 2014, when IPS officer Sanjeev Dayal was DGP, Force One was asked to report to additional director general (ADG) of police, Maharashtra law and order KL Bishnoi and this abrupt move was termed as an “administrative” decision.
“It is important for an agency like Force One to not get change of directions so frequently. It also results in administrative issues, but every time the new supervisory authority comes, he comes up with new orders and ideas and it becomes for the agency to adapt with them. Recently, the ATS has been again asked to report to ADG ATS. This is a good move as this would result in better coordination between both the agencies that deals with terrorism,” said a Force One official.
Force One headquarter at Goregaon will be inaugurated on Thursday and IPS officer Sukhwinder Singh will be heading the agency. Singh has earlier worked with the ATS as a DIG.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "dna")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}