Shillong, Oct. 5: Meghalaya today got Special Force-10, adding another feather to the state police cap especially in counter-insurgency operations.

To mark their completion of training, 223 commandos and 115 rangers of the first batch of SF-10 took part in a passing out parade at the first Meghalaya police battalion parade ground in Mawiong.

Chief minister Mukul Sangma took the salute in the presence of ministers, police officers, other dignitaries and family members of the SF-10 personnel.

The special force, comprising four platoons of commandos and two platoons of rangers, took oath after the parade. The personnel completed six months' basic training and three-and-a-half months' special commando counter-insurgency course.

Mukul also flagged off 30 SF-10 vehicles and gave away prizes to the 10 best commandos in different disciplines.

The commandos demonstrated an ambush and a counter-ambush.

The SF-10 will be the state police's specialised force for counter-insurgency operations and crowd control and management.

The counter-insurgency training for the first batch was coordinated by Brig. (retd) W.B.J. Sturgeon. The personnel were trained in armed and unarmed combat as well as tactics for survival in urban and jungle warfare by instructors of the army's special forces and Meghalaya police.

The commandos will be deployed for anti-militancy operations while those selected for maintenance of law and order, will further undergo specialised training on riot and crowd control to be imparted by the Rapid Action Force of the CRPF.

Mukul congratulated the personnel who passed the specialised training and their parents for their support and motivation.

Expressing confidence in SF-10, he said: "You are now ready to take up the most challenging task of serving the state and the nation. You are no less than any other force across the globe."

He said the event was a reminder of the state government's commitment to infuse a sense of responsibility among citizens and create a system that would be a deterrent to perpetration of crimes.

Mukul hoped the passing out of the first batch of SF-10 would strengthen the police in living up to the expectations of the people.

Talking about the multiple challenges in dealing with law and order, Mukul emphasised on continuous trainings in advanced technologies even after completion of courses "so that they are competent and equipped to take on new-age criminals."

Exhorting all to pray for personnel of the new police force as they carry out the most challenging task of fighting the enemies of the nation. Mukul wished that "angels of God Almighty" would be with them.