‘One bullet, one terrorist’: CISF men undergo target practice
SAFETY BID All personnel deployed at the Delhi airport are being trained to become sharpshooters
NEW DELHI: Not just commandos, every Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel deployed at the Delhi airport is being trained to become a sharpshooter.
Learning from terror attacks across the world, the force has begun a special training programme to refine their shooting skills with the focus, “one shot one head”, a senior officer supervising the exercise said.
Since January 1, about 4,466 force personnel, including 906 from special wings such as the quick reaction team and the antiterror squad, have undergone training.
The officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said these commandos are practising to counter every possible challenging situation that may arise while protecting the airport.
The special skills include ‘snap shooting’, which is shooting selected targets in a fixed time; ‘deliberate firing’, in which the target needs to be neutralised with a single shot; ‘rapid-burst firing’, required in a close-range armed combat in cramped places at airport; and countering enemy fire by moving in groups.
“Our focus is ‘one bullet one head’. We want to refine the (timed firing)
(only target hit is required)
(for close range armed combat)
(countering enemy fire by moving in groups)
(terrorist with hoostage) – the shooter requires to shooot the terrorist in the head
(terrorist lyingg on ground with hostage) – the commmando will shoot in the terrorist’s facef
(image of a sttanding target) – to shoot at vital organns like heart, head and face
(close quarter battle) – requires burst fire in a close combat scene for cramped areas shooting skills of our men up to such a level that during emergency, they can knock down enemies in one shot. During the terrorist attack at the Brussels international airport in March 2016, a suicide bomber had triggered a bomb because he could not be killed in one shot. We want a repeat here if a similar situation arises,” the officer said.
Since passengers are allowed till the security hold area without any frisking at the Delhi airport, the possibility of a person entering the terminal with prohibited items cannot be ruled out.
Requesting anonymity, another officer said the men are undergoing target practice for different situations.
“In case a terrorist holds a hostage as a shield, our men will be able to shoot him straight in the head. In case a terrorist is lying on the ground with a hostage, our personnel shall be able to shoot him in his face. We are training them to shoot far-off targets straight in their vital organs such as heart, head or face,” he said.
These men are also being trained to fire during close quarter battles and cause maximum damage to enemies in packed areas such as near boarding gates or in frisking areas.
Another officer, who is involved in the project, said they are using 5.56 Insas rifles, MP5 guns, Glock pistols and AK 47 assault rifles.
Assistant inspector general of the CISF, Hemendra Singh, confirmed the development. He said the training is being conducted in a containerised tubular firing range installed at the Indira Gandhi International airport.
“The 40-feet indoor shooting range inaugurated in December 2017 allows two shooters at a time and records their data that can be analysed later to further sharpen their accuracy. It is also easy to be transported and ensures complete safety,” Singh said.
The airport with three terminals has more than 5,500 CISF personnel guarding it round the clock.
The routine shooting practice for these personnel has been revised to a mandatory once-amonth course. Earlier, the routine practice took place only once a year.