Mysuru: An elite and exclusive Commando Force to deal with terror strikes and to handle sensitive cases will come up in city to ensure additional safety of residents. The 25-member force will be showcased for the first time during the Republic Day Parade on January 26, 2018. The full-fledged team will be operational from February 2018.

Titled Special Commando Force, the members of the team will be drawn from various other existing Police forces and the force will be equipped with advanced arms and specialised training to deal with rough and hostile situations.

Speaking to Star of Mysore this morning, City Police Commissioner Dr. A Subramanyeshwara Rao said that the city has no exclusive Commando Force. The existing commandoes get mixed with other forces and they are deployed to handle various minor or major situations including VVIP visits. “We want to set up an exclusive and highly-efficient core team of 25 members who are daredevils,” he said.

Very soon, the State government is sanctioning 300 Policemen to Mysuru and we will pick potential commandoes from them. This apart, we will look into the existing commandoes and also constables from city Police stations who are fit for the exercise. “We will first select 60 men and from them, we will choose 25,” Rao said.

Selection will be based on physique, qualification, sharp traits and interests and personality of candidates. Their training will be gruelling and they will not mix with other Police forces. “They will have separate uniforms will sport advanced machine guns. They will be away from public and will be called in cases of acute emergency situations like terror attacks, drug emergencies, and communally-sensitive incidents,” he said.

The training for Special Commando Force will be held at CAR Grounds and they will be trained in counter terrorism operations.

It may be recalled here that the city Police had constituted ‘Chamundi Commando Force’ a few years back during the tenure of S. Parashivamurthy as the City Police Commissioner. At present, the force is not effective and only a few personnel are serving in the force. Chamundi Force would be withdrawn after Special Commando Force comes into force, the Commissioner said.