To strengthen the State's operational preparedness to counter non-traditional terror threats, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday gave in-principle approval to merge the first Commando Battalion into the Special Operations Group (SOG).
The merger will place an additional Rs 16.54 crores at the disposal of SOG, which would be utilised for modernisation and upgradation of weapons, besides incentivisation of the specialised force.
Capt Amarinder also gave his nod to a proposal to provide risk allowance to commandos, at the rate of 40 percent of basic pay, on the lines of other State’s specialised forces across the country involving a cost of Rs 5.15 crores for State exchequer.
Expenditure on equipment, weapons, communication systems and building infrastructure would be done in a phased manner, with Rs 8.66 crores to be spent in the first year.
The Chief Minister announced these decisions at a high-level meeting to review the overall police preparedness to deal with terror related contingencies. Official spokesperson said that the formal proposal on the decisions would be placed before the Council of Ministers.
Noting that non-conventional means of warfare by militants and anti-national elements had necessitated the transformation of the State’s counter-terror apparatus, the Chief Minister told the meeting that the role of SOG was critical in the transformed global scenario.
Reaffirming his personal commitment to nurturing the SOG as an exclusive and highly endowed hit unit, the Chief Minister said that no financial crunch would be allowed to come in the way of the upkeep of the force.
The 1st Commando Battalion comprises 932 men and officers, including 273 combat posts and 318 posts of support staff. A total of 157 commandos were being currently trained at the Commando Training Centre in Patiala by elite trainers from the Indian Army, para special forces, CPOs and NSG inducted into the Punjab Police as a special case. Underlining the importance of continuous training in this scenario, the Chief Minister directed the Additional Chief Secretary Home NS Kalsi to explore the possibility of arranging live operational training of SOG commandos in Jammu and Kashmir to give them first-hand experience in ongoing combat operation.
Stressing the need to reduce the time lag in procurement of weapons, Capt Amarinder also asked the ADGP (SOG) Jitendra Kumar Jain to adopt the NSG pattern for the procurement of hi-tech weapons and technical equipment from the same buyers once approved by the national security agency.