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The CR team will undergo a 45-day rigorous training course, starting today and learn to handle all  available weapons; they will be deployed during emergency, VIP duty

TOUGH TEST: A team of RPF constables undergo rigorous commando training at an RPF ground in Mulund last week, during their selections for the commando training in Nagpur. PIC/SAMEER MARKANDE

Now, here's some serious action post the terror attacks. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) of the Central Railway (CR) has sent a team of 10 RPF personnel for a 45-day training session to the SRPF commando school at Nagpur. The training will begin today.

Although the terror attack at CST on November 26 was sudden, a few of the RPF constables bravely fought the terrorists with outdated weapons like the .303 rifles and revolvers, forcing the terrorists to flee the premises.
 
The attack has made the authorities realise the vulnerability of railway stations.

"We plan to send regular batches to the commando school. The commandos will later be used as a striking reserve during emergency situations and also for VIP duty," said RPF Chief Security Commissioner B S Sidhu.

Entrance test

The team of constables was chosen after they were put through a series of tests, which included an endurance test, before they were selected for the 45-day course. Sidhu also interviewed the candidates before they were sent for the training.

The training

The team will be trained to handle almost every weapon available. "The course is quite good and the commandos are rigorously trained. Earlier, the RPF had sent teams for training, but since around two years no personnel have been sent due to shortage of manpower," said an official.

Also, around 100 other RPF constables will undergo training to handle the INSAS rifle. INSAS (an abbreviation of Indian National Small Arms System) is a family of infantry arms consisting of an assault rifle, a light machine gun and a carbine. The RPF has also set up bunkers at the CST station and personnel are equipped with SLRs and INSAS rifles.