CM stresses on new tech training for cops
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma emphasised on a continuous training process for police personnel involving advanced technologies in the wake of multiple challenges in dealing with law and order.
Speaking at the passing out parade of the first batch of the Special Force-10 (SF-10) at the 1st MLP Battalion at Mawiong on Wednesday, Sangma said the State government would continue to invest substantially in strengthening the internal security apparatus of the State.
Altogether 223 commandos and 115 rangers were inducted into the first batch of the specialised unit of Meghalaya police after six months of basic training and three-and-a-half months of special commando counter insurgency course at APTC, Mawiong.
Expressing disappointment over instances of police personnel deserting the force to join “evil forces”, the chief minister said self-regulation comes only when citizens have respect for the law and hoped that the first batch of SF-10 would further strengthen the police organisation. “The State faces challenges in regard to law and order it needs to be prepared while dealing with any kind of situation. This event (the SF-10 passing out parade) is a reminder of the government’s commitment to infuse a sense of responsibility in citizens to be self-regulating and creating a system that itself will be a deterrent to perpetration of crime,” he added.
He also thanked parents and families of the young cadets for their support and motivation.
Sangma later flagged off 30 SF-10 vehicles and distributed prizes to the 10 best commandos in different disciplines. The commandos also staged an ambush and counter-ambush demonstration on the occasion.
The special force was created keeping in mind the need for the State to have its own specialised force to deal with counter-insurgency operations, crowd control and management during law and order disturbances.
The counter-insurgency training was coordinated by Brigadier (Retd.) W.B.J Sturgeon and the cadets were trained in armed and unarmed combats as well as other tactics for survival in both urban and jungle warfare scenarios by instructors of Army Special Forces and Meghalaya Police.
The commandos will be deployed for anti-militancy operations while those selected for law and order will further undergo specialised training on riot and crowd control to be imparted by the Rapid Action Force of the CRPF.