MUMBAI COPS TO HAVE OWN HOSTAGE NEGOTIATORS

When one hears of a hostage situation, the first reaction that crops up in the mind is about launching a rescue operation. But the most vital requirement in such a tight situation is that of a ' negotiator'. A hostage negotiator is needed to buy time to successfully release hostages held captive by criminals and terrorists.

Post 26/ 11, Mumbai police created Force One, an anti- terrorist force on the lines of India's elite terror combat force, National Security Guards also known as Black Cat Commandos. Now, the police has moved a step ahead and is in the process of setting up a highly- trained team of hostage negotiators. One of the most ambitious project that will soon start taking shape in the city police force is, training policemen to be highly- skilled hostage negotiators.

According to the plans, a batch of 20 people has been selected to undergo training for hostage negotiations and crisis management. In the programme that is slated to begin within two months, a team of experts from a foreign country will come to Mumbai and train the first batch. The officials stated that talks with the concerned institute are in the final stages of approval.

Amitabh Gupta, Additional Commissioner of Police ( Western Region), who is coordinating this entire project said, " The batch of 20 people comprise of 16 police officers and four other non- policemen who have a background of psychology and strong language skills." The team of experts would strengthen their language skills and teach them various techniques of buying time till a final decision is taken at the senior level in dealing with the crisis situation arising out of a terror attack. Gupta added, " During hostage situation, buying time is vital in an anti- terror operation.

Police or anti- terrorist squads need to ensure that the criminals don't go berserk killing hostages." The need for hostage negotiators was felt badly by the political executive in the country after the 26/ 11 terror attack, since anti- terror operations were crippled, because negotiators had to be flown down from Delhi.

Currently, three- IPS officers viz. K L Prasad, K P Raghuvanshi and Sanjay Barve have undergone a similar training program on individual level.

After the 26/ 11 terror strikes, the police sent Shalini Sharma, a Crime Intelligence Unit officer for a two- week- long training session at Hendon Police Training Academy in UK. Gupta said, " At the moment, the plans are to train the first batch, following which, we would pick a team of four seasoned people, who will later train other police teams."