Bhubaneswar: In a bid to raise the standard of Odisha police in counter‑terrorism and high‑risk operations, the National Security Guard (NSG) has for the first time rolled out specialised training sessions for personnel in the state.Officials said the programme will expose state forces to NSG’s expertise in combat, hostage rescue and tactical response to terror incidents. According to official sources, the Odisha police signed an MoU with the NSG earlier this month to strengthen its preparedness against emerging security challenges.“Earlier, only a handful of our personnel could be sent to NSG to undergo training depending on slot availability. Now, a larger pool can be trained as NSG instructors will visit our newly launched counter‑terrorism training facility and briefing centre at the special operation group (SOG) campus in Chandaka,” said ADG (special intelligence wing) Sanjeeb Panda.According to ADG Panda, “This collaboration with NSG will not only sharpen our preparedness but also ensure our forces are equipped to handle high‑risk scenarios with precision and confidence.”Sources said that the training modules cover urban terrorism, VIP protection and sniper courses, with simulation exercises replicating real‑world challenges. Officials said even drivers, personal security officers (PSOs) and local police station staff engaged in VIP security will be trained.“They are the first responders before specialised units arrive. Two courses have already been held for drivers on defensive driving and emergency response,” ADG Panda said.The senior police officer explained that with Odisha declared free of left‑wing extremism by March 31, the focus has now shifted to urban terrorism and warfare scenarios. The SOG already maintains a small tactical unit for such contingencies.Though Odisha has not witnessed direct terror strikes, police remain jittery given past arrests linking residents of the state to extremist outfits — from Bhubaneswar resident Sheikh Imran’s arrest in April to the NIA’s takeover of a rooftop blast probe in the Airfield area here in January, besides earlier cases pointing to suspected LeT, SIMI and al‑Qaeda operatives in the state.In the wake of Indo-Pak tensions following Pahalgam terror strike in April 2025, the Odisha police enhanced their counter-terrorism capabilities by acquiring two sophisticated bulletproof armoured vehicles, equipped with roof-mounted light machine guns.
