US Commandos in Pune? What did 'surprise' joint military exercise at Hinjewadi IT Park achieve?
The Indo-US combat exercise, which also included several other Maharashtra-based security departments, covered tactical intervention, neutralisation of attackers, and bomb detection and disposal, among other areas
The National Security Guard (NSG) and soldiers of the United States Army jointly conducted a large-scale mock drill at Pune's Hinjewadi IT Park. The exercise simulated counter-terrorism threats and hostage situations, lasting for five hours and involving around 100 personnel from various Indian and US security agencies, including the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad and Force One.
The National Security Guard (NSG) and soldiers of the United States Army jointly conducted a large-scale mock drill at Pune's Hinjewadi IT Park. The exercise simulated counter-terrorism threats and hostage situations, lasting for five hours and involving around 100 personnel from various Indian and US security agencies, including the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad and Force One.
The National Security Guard (NSG) and soldiers of the United States Army jointly conducted a large-scale mock drill at Pune's Hinjewadi IT Park. The exercise simulated counter-terrorism threats and hostage situations, lasting for five hours and involving around 100 personnel from various Indian and US security agencies, including the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad and Force One.
National Security Guard (NSG) and soldiers of the United States Army jointly carried out a mock drill at Pune's Hinjewadi IT Park on Wednesday. Countering a terror threat, a hostage situation, and other emergency situations were among the simulations covered in the large-scale military exercise, as per local reports.
The Indo-US combat exercise went on for five hours — lasting till 9 PM after beginning in the evening. As per reports, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad, senior officers from the Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissionerate, and chosen personnel from several other investigative agencies were also included in the drill. These included the Riot Control Team, Bomb Detection Team, and Disaster Management Team, among others.
As many as 17 commandos from the US Army, officers of the NSG's 26 Special Composite Group, and Force One made up the 100 personnel who attended the drill, reports said. Force One is the elite counter-terrorism commando unit of the Maharashtra Police, formed in response to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
Although the heavy deployment of armed personnel caught the eye of local residents as well as employees of the IT hub, the possibility of panic and confusion was nipped in the bud, as the concerned officials quickly let the public know that it was a drill and no threat was reported.
Pune-based media said that the role of first responders, inter-agency coordination, crisis management, tactical intervention, neutralisation of attackers, bomb detection and disposal, and internal security protocols at the corporate campus were among the other scenarios that were included in the drill.
“The objective of the mock drill was to strengthen coordination among all stakeholder agencies and enhance preparedness for responding swiftly and effectively to any terror-related emergency,” DCP (Special Branch) Dheeraj Patil was quoted as saying by Punekar News.