Karnataka received its first batch of commandos trained under the Centre for Counter Terrorism (CCT) of the Internal Security Division (ISD). The team is now ready was dedicated to the state by the Karnataka Home Minister R Ashok on Thursday.
The Response Counter Terrorism Team will be based in Bangalore and will reach any part of the city within 30 minutes if situation arises. In case of emergency, the team would be sent to other parts of the state as well.
The team presented a demonstration at CCT, various urban counter-terrorism skills such as slithering, rappelling, room and vehicle intervention, weapon handling and life-saving medical trauma care at Kudlu. Home Minister R Ashok, senior police officers and media persons witnessed the demonstration of the commandos.
The team with 80 commandos in the first batch was trained for one-and-a-half years with various skills by Brigadier K Arjun Muthanna of the Gwalior Regiment. IGP Bhaskar Rao said that the response teams can respond to any armed attack in the state. The team is trained in special counter terrorism skills such as weapons, explosives, rope work and communication, CAD (Computer Added Design) and Navigation, Medical First Aid and PIN (Planning, Intelligence and negotiation). The team was also trained by the National Security Guards at Manesar in Haryana, besides by the Force One in Mumbai.
It is a wing of the ISD and is mandated to train police personnel from all wings of police in counter terrorism activities and also select, train and equip the state counter terrorism response team.
At the formal launch of the unit, home minister R Ashoka said these men will not have any general duty but specialize only in counter-terrorism operations. These men will be given a 50% hike in their basic salaries as well. The government has allocated 30 acres on the city outskirts for setting up a headquarters and training centre, he added.
The minister said the commandos would be deployed in areas with high concentration of IT and BT companies, besides sensitive areas including coastal Karnataka.
So far, two courses of Counter terrorism (90 days duration each) for the rank of Sub Inspectors of Police and Constables have already conducted. The first programme on Urban Counter Terrorism for Police officers of the rank of Police Inspectors to DSP/ACPs has conducted on Thursday, an official said.
He gave assurance to give more importance to the ISD as this year the government is providing Rs. 106 crore under the police modernisation scheme.
He also said that 30 acres for the ISD is located in Agara village and in the coming days, a full-fledged and more advanced ISD would be formed for better action.
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