The first batch of SF-10, including 223 commandos and 115 rangers, on Thursday took part in an impressive Passing out Parade after the completion of six months of their basic training and three-and-a half months of Special Commando Counter
Insurgency Course at the Armed Police Training Centre (APTC) in Shillong's Mawiong area.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma took the salute as the chief guest, while four platoons of commandos and two platoons of rangers marched past to the accompaniment of one brass band and one pipe band of 1st MLP battalion, in the presence of the Council of Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, senior police officials, government officials and family members of the passing out cadets at the 1st MLP Battalion Parade Ground.
After the parade, they took the oath which was administered by the Commandant of 1st MLP Battalion.
Congratulating the young cadets, the Chief Minister expressed confidence that they are now ready to take up the most challenging task of serving the state and the nation, saying they were no less than any other forces across the globe.
"This event is a reminder of the government's commitment to infuse a sense of responsibility among the citizens to be self-regulating and create a system that itself would be a deterrent to perpetration of crimes," Sangma said.
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Stating that the whole aspect of governance is invariably linked to the law of the land, the Chief Minister reiterated that self-regulation comes only when the citizens have knowledge of and respect for the law and expressed hope that the passing out of the first batch of SF-10 would further strengthen the police organization to live up to the expectations of the people.
Speaking about multiple challenges in dealing with the law and order situation, the Chief Minister emphasized on continuous trainings to the police forces using new and advanced technologies even after completion of their courses so that they are competent and equipped not only to take on new age criminals, but also tackle the law and order situation.
"There will be more inductions of similar batches of men and women to ensure that our security apparatus is one of the best," he added.
Emotionally-charged by the occasion, the Chief Minister also expressed a deep sense of gratitude to the parents and families of the young cadets for their support and motivation and exhorted upon all to pray for these young men and women as they carry out the most challenging task of fighting the inimical forces that wage war against the country.
The Chief Minister also 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.
SF-10 was created as there was a need for the state to have its own specialized force to deal with counter-insurgency operations, crowd control and management during law and order situations.
The counter insurgency training for the first batch personnel was coordinated by Brigadier (Retd.) W.B.J Sturgeon. 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 the Meghalaya Police.
The commandos will be deployed for anti-militancy operations while those selected for law and order would further undergo specialized training by the CRPF on riot and crowd control.