Learning from experience: New force to be raised to deal with hostage taking

250-strong commando force will be trained at police lines.

LAHORE:

City police has decided to establish a new 250- strong commando quick response force to deal with hostage situations in the wake of the Peshawar carnage, The Express Tribune has learnt.

Operations DIG Haider Ashraf directed Headquarters SP Umer Saeed to begin preparations to raise the force following a directive from IGP Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera. SP Saeed told The Express Tribune that the policemen would be trained in six weeks following their selection. He said their training would commence on Monday (December 29) at police lines in Qila Gujjar Singh.



Saeed said the initiative was being taken to equip them with skills needed to ensure safe rescue of hostages in situations like the Peshawar carnage. He said most of the programme would comprise courses on physical training. Saeed said the policemen would be trained by officials of the Elite Force. He said the training would raise awareness among them about standard operating procedures to be followed during search, inspection, patrolling and security hazards in addition to achieving and maintaining physical fitness. Saeed said police wanted them to become adept at handling firearms and setting up pickets.



He said the policemen would also be instructed on how to board, lodge and vacate vehicles.  Saeed said they would also be trained in mixed martial arts.

He said the force would have 10 25-commando platoons. He said the trainees would be imparted physical, weapon-handling, firing, security, vehicle and personnel search, sniper, unarmed combat, security formation and fire-and-move, ambush, anti-ambush and raid-and-field craft training. Saeed said they would also be taught room combat, room clearance, post-action activities, building assault and room entry.

Saeed said they would be taught about personal security, use of handcuffs and security formations. He said the trainees would also be taught various firing techniques and restrictions. Saeed said the trainees would be made to run a mile every day during their training. He said they would be deployed at various points across Lahore to maintain order following the completion of their training.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2014.