Fighting Terror: SWAT-like teams to work in divisions
The police headquarters have decided to launch teams like SWAT in all divisional cities to combat armed terrorists, after the elite tactical unit of DMP achieved huge success in recent anti-militancy operations.
The teams, each comprising around 30 members, will take part in comparatively risky operations in their areas.
“We will launch teams like SWAT in all divisional cities as early as possible,” AKM Shahidur Rahman, deputy inspector General (media and planning) at the police headquarters, told The Daily Star recently.
The teams will be well-trained and well-equipped with sophisticated arms. The process of recruitment and purchasing firearms is underway, he added.
There is a plan that the officials of Special Weapons And Tactics team (SWAT), among others, will train the teams in the divisional cities.
At a programme yesterday, DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia said they started working to increase strength and capability of special forces like SWAT, including through training.
Japan and the US already proposed to provide training, which may start by this year. Japan will also give logistical supports in this regard, he added.
SWAT, now a 50-member unit, started its journey in February 2009 with 24 men to fight hardcore criminals and terrorists.
Its members had completed a 42-day training programme in the US.
Unlike other forces from different police stations and detectives, the unit has rarely taken part in regular operations.
Over the years, people have seen them guarding the streets on different national occasions -- in khakhi pants and T-shirts and equipped with modern weapons.
But it came to limelight after the operations in Kalyanpur and Narayanganj.
Nine suspected militants were killed in Kalyanpur on July 26. Three others, including the alleged mastermind of Gulshan café attack Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, were shot dead in Narayanganj on August 27.
“The two operations were successful because of the dedication and hard work of the team members,” said Ashiqur Rahman, an additional deputy commissioner leading SWAT.
The team was also quick to response after militants seized the Holey Artisan Bakery and held diners hostage on July 1.
SWAT members immediately reached the spot but they were not allowed to carry out any operation after grenades hurled by militants killed two police officials and injured several others. The next morning, an army-led commando operation ended the siege, killing five militants and rescuing 13 hostages.
As part of the training, ADC Ashiqur said, a SWAT man fires numerous simulation bullets every week and 200 live rounds every month.
Intelligent, courageous, physically fit and tactful police men are included in SWAT. It has an ADC, an assistant commissioner, four inspectors, 12 sub-inspectors. The rest are assistant sub-inspectors and constables.
The SWAT men usually use M4 assault rifles and Glock-17 pistols.
“We soon are going to get 200 pieces of submachine gun KRISS Super V to be sued specially in close quarters battle against terrorists,” he said.
SWAT has three internal teams. The command and control team which plans and coordinates operations. The second one examines ways to break into a militant or crime den during an operation, while the sniper and intelligence team is skilled in killing a suicide attacker or terrorist with heavy arms.
Ashiqur said the DMP has planned to increase the number of SWAT members to 100.
According to senior police officials, the government has planned to provide the unit with two bulletproof vans for operations in an open space.
“As our main job is to fight terrorists or militants equipped with bombs, grenades and heavy weapons, the government should allocate special incentives for us,” said a member of the team who took part in both the operations in Kalyanpur and Narayanganj.
Comments