Guwahati:
At the Saru Sajai Sports Complex in Guwahati, amid hundreds of spectators and dignitaries, including Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, a group of young commandos, dressed in their black battle fatigues, armed with the latest snipers at close range and automatic weapons, slung down a rope from a hovering Army Aviation Corp Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) for a demo of a tactical exercise.
These commandos may resemble the National Security Guards (NSG) in their tactical action to deal with a hostage situation, but they are the new batch of Assam's Black Panthers – the state's own police commando battalions.
It was a historic moment for the Assam Police as the new batch of 2,551 police commandos was inducted.
According to the Assam Police, this was the first time that such a large contingent of a police force in the country was trained by the Indian Army as part of their commando training.
“These 2,551 young recruits, who are both sub-inspectors and constables, have been trained by the Army in such a large number for the first time… The Army trained them with basic training after which they came to the Lachit Borphukan police academy in Dergaon , where they underwent police training,” Assam Special DGP Harmeet Singh told reporters.
The groundbreaking parade has attracted attention not only for the large number of trained personnel, but also for its unique partnership with the military.
“The most important thing is that they emerged from a transparent recruitment process. Most importantly, this passing out parade took place in the presence of the Minister of the Interior, who saluted them. It is an honor for the Assam Police and for Assam too since Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was also present,” Singh said.