The Goa police have launched a Marine Commando Force, an elite team of trained policemen armed with sophisticated weapons like AK-47 rifles and bullet proof vessels to tackle terrorist attacks.
Speaking to reporters after commissioning the force, State Home Minister Ravi Naik said the force would be known as ’Sheshnag’ and commandos would be sent for further training with Indian Navy’s academy, INS Mandovi.
Goa Police Chief Bhimsen Bassi said that ‘Sheshnag would be the sea version of state’s Quick Response Teams (QRTs) formed to counter terrorist acts.
Interestingly, the commando force failed to keep up to the expectation on the first day itself.
The force was launched at Captain of Ports jetty in the city with a group of 10 commandos who tried to swim across Mandovi River but few of them had to be rescued by the lifeguard boats.
Mr. Bassi said that the commandos would be trained in such a way that they should be able to swim wearing their uniform, shoes and rifle on their back.
“When they began, they had no knowledge of even elementary swimming. They are now trained for over eight months,” he said adding that `they will be the sea version of State’s Quick Response Teams (QRTs) which were formed to counter terrorist acts.
Mr. Bassi said the State was building anti-terror forces as there were apprehensions that the state could become the target for terrorists.
If terrorists want media attention then there can be no place like Goa given the large presence of foreigners here, Mr. Bassi said adding a terror attack on Goa could cripple the economy which depends on tourism to a large extent.
