The state’s first responders in the event of another terror attack, Force One, have reached the final level of their training. While the training sessions are lined up with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and a military training establishment, officials hope the first batch of the team will be ready by August.

With firing and tactical exercises constituting the bulk of their training, the unit is now set to head for the most important aspect of their training — handling of explosives, arms and ammunitions and updating their knowledge of improvised explosive devices (IED). The unit will be stationed at three places in the state. While the unit commandos were trained by retired and serving officials from both central paramilitary and central police organisations so far, the last stage will see them being sent to military establishments for specific syllabus.

S Jagannathan, Deputy Inspector General, Force One, said: “The performance of the commandos is improving with every level of training. We are hoping that the team will be ready by August. In the beginning we were giving them basic levels of awareness, now we have reached a stage where key aspects of combat are being taught.”

The special ancillary unit of the state police, divided into three batches, will be attending a military training establishment in Maharashtra to specifically learn the art of demolition — the tactical exercise that requires a commando to follow safety precautions, do calculations, acquire knowledge of various materials in identifying and make the ambush.

... contd.