Crack unit loses 100 unfit commandos

Khan added,“Such dropouts happen every time; there is no issue of them being scared or anything. Some were not fit and some opted out.”

Force One is the Maharashtra Police’s initiative to create a new first-response unit for handling any terror attack,planned siege or hijack bids. The selection process was based on guidelines designed by the National Security Guard (NSG),and around 350 Mumbai police candidates for Force One,drawn from Pune,Nashik,Aurangadbad and Nagpur,had been shortlisted. The selections are for various levels,from constables to inspectors. They include personnel of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF).

“Any commando force will select the best,and therefore certain benchmarks are prescribed. We have completed the second phase of Force One,and with each passing phase the benchmark is raised. Since only the best will be selected,some of the candidates will necessarily be eliminated. There are thousands of candidates from whom to select,and there is no reason why we shouldn’t choose the best of this pool,” said Additional Commissioner in-charge of Force One S Jagannathan. “We are choosing the fittest,and all the candidates selected so far are below 27 years. The standard of the training is along the lines of the NSG.”

The selection criteria includes various physical tests such as a 2.4-km run carrying complete gear and equipment weighing up to 10 kg,push-ups and other endurance exercises. The preparatory training is taking place at the SRPF unit in Pune and at the training grounds at Wadachi Wadi. Regular training,among many things,will focus on endurance,physical and tactical,with emphasis on firing and counter-attack. The maximum age for entry to the unit is 25 years for constabulary while it is 30 years for inspectors,with at least five years of service.