Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Monday underlined the significance of States having a well-trained and equipped commando force since the contours of internal security were undergoing rapid and unprecedented changes. “We cannot afford to be complacently under-equipped,” she said.
This was needed to upscale the capabilities of the States to deal with and do away with the menace of terrorism and extremism, emerging as serious threats to internal security, she told the valedictory of the 4th all-India Police Commando Competition here.
It was in this context that she also referred to the inclusion of the Commando Competition to the annual police sports calendar, considering the importance of counter-terrorism skills.
Pointing out that most States had raised commando units, which needed to be kept fighting fit by constant training and upgrading skills and tactics, she said most of the commando units comprised personnel better trained, better equipped, well-led and more motivated components within their respective forces. Specific needs dictated special dispensations.
“However, my endeavour as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has been to raise the level of training, equipping, leadership and motivation of the complete Police Force, rather than to create an odd island of excellence in a sea of mediocrity,” she told the function, after presenting various prizes to different teams of police organisations.
Recalling that she had sanctioned the Rs. 94.75 lakh for the competition which was hosted by the Tamil Nadu Police and held at the Tamil Nadu Police Academy in Oonamanchery of Kancheepuram district, the Chief Minister said new infrastructure, including obstacle courses, system of baffles for the range, and electronically controlled targets, had been created at a cost of Rs. 50 lakh. They would be permanent additions to the infrastructure of the Academy for training in obstacle courses and shooting. While the Tamil Nadu Police was given the prizes for the overall best team and the best State Police team, Maharashtra Police got the second overall best team prize and the Border Security Force, the third prize. Sheela Balakrishnan, Chief Secretary, Apurva Varma, Prinicipal Secretary (Home), K. Ramanujam, Director General of Police were among those who took part.
