Elite Police
| Elite Police | |
|---|---|
| 100px
Elite Police Insignia
|
|
| Active | 1998 - present |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Branch | Punjab Police |
| Type | Special Forces/Light Infantry |
| Role | Special Operations Force, Domestic Counter-Terrorism and Law Enforcement |
| Nickname(s) | Elite Force |
| Motto | Allahu Akbar |
| Engagements | 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team, Lahore police academy attack |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Additional Inspector-General of Police, Elite Police |
The Elite Punjab Police (Urdu: اشرافیہ پولیس), also known as the "Elite Force" or "Police Commandos",[1][2][3] is a branch of the Punjab Police specializing in Counter-Terrorist operations and VIP security duties, as well as acting against serious crime and performing high-risk operations which can't be carried out by the regular police. It was formed in 1998 as a counterterrorism unit, but over time its duties expanded to VIP escort.
History
The Elite Force was created on the order of the then Punjab Chief Minister Shabaz Sarhif in 1997–1998.[4] In 2004, more funds were allocated for its expansion, and 5000 new personnel were inducted. New checkpoints for curbing street crime were created across Punjab and manned by the Elite Force.[5] Their work drew attention in the wake of the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore. The Elite Police were also extensively involved in neutralizing enemy combatants who had laid siege to the Manawan Police Training School during the 2009 Lahore police academy attacks.
Mumtaz Qadri, the bodyguard who shot and killed Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer in Islamabad on January 4, 2011 was a member of the Elite Police.[6]
Organization
The Elite Police Force is headed by the Additional Inspector-General of Police, Elite Police Force, Punjab, Lahore. During operations, they are headed by an officer trained in a "Basic Elite" course.[7]
The Elite Force is used in a range of special operations including "high-risk searches, raids and rescue operations".[8] Members of the Elite Force are trained for six months at the Elite Police Training School (EPTS) at Badian, Lahore, by Pakistan's Special police trainers in personal combat, martial arts, crowd control, close quarters battle (CQB), and reconnaissance. They are trained in the use of a range of weapons, including the AK-47, Glock Pistol, MP5, and grenades. They can use different kind of weapons like Pakistan-made G3, machine-guns etc. Their arsenal also included flak jackets. They are trained in martial arts and they have to face very bloody boxing fights during training period.[7][citation needed] They are often seen in black and green track suits.[9]
Equipment
- MP5A3 SMG
- AK-47
- HK G3
- Remington 870
- Glock 17
- Steyr AUG rifle
- Beretta 92FS
- Armalite AR-10 rifle
- M4 carbine
- Dragunov sniper rifle
- Grenades
- Night vision goggles
See also
References
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- ↑ Punjab Police, Elite Force Official website, retrieved 17 March 2009
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