Lessons in explosives,blasts for commandos

The training touched all aspects,especially on how to use certain explosives to break a hostage situation and for demolition exercises. The commandos underwent an intensive theory session on every chemical formations used by terrorists along with practical exercises in a makeshift facility on the HEMRL premises.

On the physical training front,the training review has shown a commendable improvement,with speed march and long stretch run extending over 20 km with 18 kg on person.

The next set of training is scheduled to begin soon and one of the exercises will be “instinctive shooting” that involves the commando to cut the response time to the minimum possible.

According to Jagannathan,the Force One at this stage has over 200 commandos,a figure that might come down as there is a proposal to have a committee of experts outside their training who will finally decide on the recruitment based on each commando’s performance. The state has also decided that the Quick Response Team will remain with the Mumbai police and Force One will use cadre from its trained personnel.

According to Jagannathan,the commandos will have to undergo a crucial stage of training in August before they go for their last stage of unarmed combat — “that of integrating the skills in a team” and “thinking and reacting like a group”. While the force was scheduled to take guard by August,the rains have delayed the training and the team should be functional by September-end,he said.