This Independence Day, 41 women commandos from the Northeast who have gone through rigorous training to counter terrorist strikes or hostage situations will head the security detail at Red Fort and India Gate, amid intelligence inputs of women Fidayeen planning to target the capital.

This new commando force is the initiative of police commissioner Amulya Patnaik. Currently, these women are undergoing a four-month advance commando training at Jharoda Kalan.

According to ACP-rank officer, O P Sharma who is heading the training programme, the commandos are extremely professional and dedicated towards their training. Within a minute of an alarm being sounded, they can spring from deep sleep to action, fully armed.

As part of the training, the commandos are taught advanced hand-to-hand combat moves from Krav Maga, a form of martial art developed by the Israeli army. When pressed into action, they can carry out reconnaissance, design maps and begin an assault within 10 minutes of reaching a spot. Each "hit-team" consists of a team leader, two recce officers, a communication specialist, two sharpshooters and a medic.

Each commando is very well armed with an AK-47 assault rifle, or an MP5 submachine gun, pistols, hand grenades, commando dagger, bulletproof jacket and other devices. They are also taught warfare techniques such as tracking and disposing of improvised explosive devices.

A big salute to these commandos who are well equipped to face any crisis in the capital as their training and combat skills are Delhi-centric — from climbing multi-storey buildings within seconds to rescuing hostages from a room located in the core of a hotel, or a DTC bus or the Metro.