Part of 26/11 resistance, they’ve turned commandos at Force One
Indian Express: If it was heart-rending experiences while handling critical situations during the 26/11 terror strike in Mumbai that inspired these four cops to dedicate their lives to a battle against terrorism, making this possible has been Force One, the special commando force put together by the Maharashtra police to combat terrorism in June.
Assistant police inspectors Rajendra Kamble, Ramesh Dhasal, sub-inspector Santosh Sabalkar and constable Rakesh Bhoir, who were attached to different police establishments in Mumbai during the 26/11 terror strike, have voluntarily joined Force One. These four are part of the 232 cops undergoing rigorous commando training at the state reserve police force (SRPF) in Pune for the past five months.
Kamble, who was attached to the Cuffe Parade police station during the terrorist attack at Taj Hotel, has received cash reward for the role he played in tackling the situation. On that night, Kamble had got a message on the wireless about attack in which ATS chief Karkare and others were killed. Soon, he was on field with his police team. At the Free Press Road, he saw terrorist Ajmal Kasab escaping in a Skoda car. It was Kamble who passed on this information which helped the police locate Kasab and later nab him alive.
Ask Kamble why he joined Force One and he says: “I still remember Kasab escaping from Free Press Road. The incident has made a deep impact on my mind. I felt if I had proper training and advanced weapons I would have never allowed Kasab to escape from the spot. So I volunteered for Force One.”
For inspector Dhasal, who was already a part of the assault team of the state ATS during the Mumbai terror strike almost a year ago, it is about reiterating his faith. Dhasal had joined the police team led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Vishwas Nangare Patil at Taj Hotel. Dhasal and his team rescued many citizens including 20 foreign nationals from the hotel that night.
“I was inspired by the action of NSG commandos. I saw their action and felt that police should be given similar training. I was delighted when I came to know about state government’s decision to form Force One, a commando squad similar to that of NSG,” he said. Dhasal lost his colleague sub-inspector Bapusaheb Durgade, who died along with Karkare during the terrorist attack at Cama Hospital.
Sub-inspector Sabalkar, who was deputed to Gamdevi police station at Grant Road, was involved in rescuing citizens at a couple of terror-stricken spots November 27 onwards. He recorded the statements of several persons injured in the attack. He shifted many dead bodies and conducted “panchanama” of the spots where terrorists had struck.
Sabalkar’s father and grandfather were in the police department. “My parents encouraged me to join Force One,” he said. Meanwhile, it was anger against Kasab that made the young constable Rakesh Bhoir join Force One. He was at the Tardeo police station during the 26/11 attacks. After Kasab was nabbed, Bhoir was a part of the team that took the terrorist to the hospital for medical tests. He was angry, as the terrorists had killed his close friend constable Yogesh Patil.
“Even after killing so many innocents, Kasab was behaving dramatically at the hospital. I have joined Force One to teach a lesson to the likes of Kasab,” said Bhoir.
The training for the first batch of 212 constables and about 20 inspectors of Force One is in the last stage.
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