It has been publicised as the best commando force in the making to combat terror strikes.
Says Maharashtra Home Minister Jayant Patil: ''Basically Force 1 has been created after 26/11 to fight any terrorist attack.''
Part of it are about 150 commandos handpicked from the SRPF and Maharashtra Police.
Says Somnath Dagde, a commando of Maharashtra Force 1: ''I just got married. But I came back because I don't want to miss on this training.''
Another commando Sadaf Yusuf Khan says: ''We will not give the terrorists a chance. Before they do damage, we will finish them off.''
Their determination and excitement is clearly on display. But the crucial question... is Force 1 ready to deliver?
Here is a quick checklist:
- Force 1 will be posted in just Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur
- To reach location of a terror attack, it could take from a few minutes to even an hour
- World-class gadgets and equipment promised to it have not arrived
Over time, the government promises to upgrade Force 1 in terms of technology, strength and battle-readiness. But as of today, as of now, is Force 1 terror-ready? It's not an emphatic yes.
