Force One — the state equivalent of the National Security Guard (NSG)— will be ready and fully operational by August, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan announced on Tuesday at the function held in Kalina to inaugurate the NSG hub in Mumbai.

Force One, which will act as the first-response team in case of a terror strike or hostage situation, now has 256 commandos under training in Pune. Force One will be a 352-strong unit if the support staff are included.

“Training has reached the last stage of tactical planning. We should be ready and operational very soon,” said Additional Commissioner In-charge of Force One S Jagannathan.

Training has vastly improved their firing skills Jagannathan said. The Pradhan Committee had suggested that firing skills was a key area that needed strong attention.

Senior police officials and some of the retired ones known for their accurate shots are training Force One commandos. The unit will also undergo a special training on machine gun and long-range firing this week by trained sharp-shooters from the Centre’s Special Protection Group (SPG).

Fitness levels of the commandos have greatly improved, said Jagannathan and added: “In the next two months, we plan to complete the most important aspect of training, tactical skills of a commando.” This phase will see retired army officials, who have been instrumental in raising special task units across the country, in the ranks of major and colonels training them in tackling simulated attacks in buildings.

“We are planning to take the commandos to all the 26/11 terror spots to train them on tackling such attacks. At this stage, we have not requested the NSG for guidance, but in case we need it we will seek their help. We already have some retired NSG officials in the current team of experts,” he added.

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