When 10 Pakistani terrorists sailed from Karachi to Mumbai and laid mayhem in the city on the night of November 26, 2008, the police were found struggling to tackle the situation.
The Mumbai Police, who was not trained in dealing with terrorists in a hostage situation, had to move in the background and let the Marine Commandos and National Security Guard (NSG) complete the operation. Subsequently, the administration was forced to set up specialised combat forces to tackle terrorists — Force One and Quick Response Teams (QRTs).
DNA looks at how the city police have since trained themselves in battling terrorists to give them a fitting reply.
Recruitment
The recruitment process for the commandos in QRT and Force One is almost similar.
Policemen aged 25 years or less are inducted only if they volunteer to work in the forces. One can be part of the force until the age of 30.
Training
Their physical training regimen is tough compared to any police agency in the country. They encourage a culture of competition within the force to get the best performance in a crisis situation.
“QRT personnel are trained in unarmed combat and in the use of advanced weaponry. They are trained for marksmanship and specialised counter-terrorism operation, including rappelling. The force has been given armoured and bulletproof vehicles,” said additional commissioner of police, Madhukar Pandey, who heads the QRT.
QRT personnel also get training on how to fire with both hands, fire while riding a bike and hit a moving target.
“Our aim is super-accurate in hitting the target in one shot at a distance of 150-200 m,” said a QRT commando.
The QRT and Force One personnel, who are trained by former NSG men, also undergo regular training at the police training centre in Kalina.
“To be a member of this force, we need to maintain high level of skill and fitness. The total strength of the QRT is 650 and another 650 commandos will be inducted in the next recruitment,” said the commando.
While the QRT men are not trained in tackling marine or air-borne terrorist operations, Force One commandos are trying to cover these aspects, too.
They are given specialised training in fields that were not imparted to regular policemen. Every commando who gets such training is then put in the “Super Skills” category.
One of the special skills the commandos learn are fixing air-conditioners (ACs) and its connections. Reason being that in most malls and multiplexes, the AC ducts are connected. These ducts can be used by the commandos during an operation to gain vantage point if there a terrorist has taken over the premises. At least 12 commandos have received training from the Kohinoor Technical Institute in this regard.
At least five commandos from Force One have learned architecture and can draw a flawless blueprint of any construction. They can also give power-point and 3D presentations of any structure to get an accurate scenario.
Force One commandos are also trained in bombing the doors of any vital installation to gain entry in case of a terror strike.
){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}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}