If it was heart-rending experiences while handling critical situations during the 26/11 terror strike in Mumbai that inspired these four cops to dedicate their lives to a battle against terrorism, making this possible has been Force One, the special commando force put together by the Maharashtra police to combat terrorism in June.

Assistant police inspectors Rajendra Kamble, Ramesh Dhasal, sub-inspector Santosh Sabalkar and constable Rakesh Bhoir, who were attached to different police establishments in Mumbai during the 26/11 terror strike, have voluntarily joined Force One. These four are part of the 232 cops undergoing rigorous commando training at the state reserve police force (SRPF) in Pune for the past five months.

Kamble, who was attached to the Cuffe Parade police station during the terrorist attack at Taj Hotel, has received cash reward for the role he played in tackling the situation. On that night, Kamble had got a message on the wireless about attack in which ATS chief Karkare and others were killed. Soon, he was on field with his police team. At the Free Press Road, he saw terrorist Ajmal Kasab escaping in a Skoda car. It was Kamble who passed on this information which helped the police locate Kasab and later nab him alive.

Ask Kamble why he joined Force One and he says: “I still remember Kasab escaping from Free Press Road. The incident has made a deep impact on my mind. I felt if I had proper training and advanced weapons I would have never allowed Kasab to escape from the spot. So I volunteered for Force One.”

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