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Assam to raise STF to counter terrorism
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ASIANAGE on 06 July, 2008 02:50:44
 
BY MANOJ ANAND
Guwahati
July 6: The Assam government has embarked upon an ambitious plan of raising a
unit of the Special Task Force for specialised counter-insurgency operations
against the separatist groups in Assam.
Disclosing this, the principal home secretary of the Assam government, Mr
Subhas Das, told this newspaper that the specialised unit will be headed by an
officer of inspector-general of police rank. The proposed 132-member crack unit
will have three superintendents of police, eight deputy superintendents of
police, besides 32 sub-inspectors.
He said that officers and constables have been drawn on deputation from various
branches of the Assam police. Besides giving them commando training, the
Greyhounds, an elite commando force of Andhra Pradesh will train the unit of the
Special Task Force.
He said that they have already contacted the Greyhounds for the training of the
Assam Special Task Force. He said that they will be imparted specialised
training in field craft and weapons, handling and more emphasis will be given to
developing a high standard of physical fitness and mental alertness.
The Assam government has also sought the assistance of the Counter-Insurgency
and Jungle Warfare (CIJW) School at Vairengte, which is considered as one of
world’s most prestigious anti-terrorist institution with trainees from several
countries receiving counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist training.
He said that the STF unit will be stationed in Guwahati and would be used for
specialised operations against the terrorist group across the state.
Asserting the necessity of the STF in violence-hit states of the region, Mr Das
said: "Majority of the police force is on static duty at different locations so
they can not be used for specialised operations against the highly-equipped
separatist or terrorist groups."
According to an estimate of the Assam police, nearly 7,000-strong police force
is engaged in PSO, escort and house guard duty of the VIPs. The principal home
secretary said that they have already selected the officers and appointment
letters are being issued to them to join the force for training. "We are trying
to complete the exercise by July 31," he said. He said that the idea of the STF
is aimed at to minimise the dependence of the state police from Central
government forces for the routine operations.
Moreover, security forces from outside the state have serious problem of
language in carrying out specific tasks.
He said that a backup support of constables for the proposed STF would be given
by 23 Assam Police India Reserve Battalion for which recruitment has already
been completed.