Kerala Thunderbolts

Kerala Thunderbolts is an elite commando force of the Kerala Police under the India Reserve Battalion, set up in accordance with the Indian central government's directions post the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The commando force has been created to counter possible terror strikes and carry out counterinsurgency operations in Kerala. The force modeled on the Special Protection Group and National Security Guard are trained to engage in air, water and land attacks.[3][4][5][6][7]

Kerala Thunderbolts
Insignia of Kerala Thunderbolts
Active2012 – present
CountryIndia India
Agency Kerala Police
TypePolice tactical unit
Role
Part ofIndia Reserve Battalion (IRBn)
HeadquartersThrissur[1]
MottoSwift, Strong and Secure
Structure
Officers200
Squads
  • Avengers (Urban Commandos)[2]
  • Scorpions (Regular Wing)
  • Special Operations Group (SOG)
Commanders
Current
commander		Superintendent of Police (Operations)
Notables
Anniversaries24 August

Known operations
See also: Nilambur incident

A Thunderbolt team carried out a combing operation in the Malappuram district following reports of sighting of Maoist insurgents in February, 2013.[8] In March 2013, a 30-member Thunderbolt team was involved in a counterinsurgency combing operation in search of suspected Maoist insurgents in Kannur district in Kerala. On 6 December 2014, A gunfight broke out in a forest in Kerala's hilly Wayanad district between the Thunderbolt unit and the left-wing rebels (Maoist). It was the first direct encounter between police and Maoists in the history of Kerala and no casualties were reported.[8][9]

Selection and training

The commando force consists of 2 companies of 160 personnel, who have been recruited after undergoing 2 years of rigorous and specialized training at various institutions around the country including Army's Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School, Mizoram.[10] Ex-Chief minister Oommen Chandy, announced the approval of the Central Government for raising a second battalion of 40 more personnel, in the wake of increased terrorist activity across India.[11] Thunderbolts commandos are being trained at Special Operations Group, an elite force of Odisha Police.[12]

The recruits, in the 18–21 age group, were selected after going through the Three Star physical Efficiency Test and Endurance test, as specified by the Kerala Public Service Commission. The second stage training was completed at Commando School, Chennai, National Disaster Management School, Coimbatore, Counter insurgency and Anti Terrorism School, Silchar, National Adventure School, Munnar, Underwater Operation and Diving school, Kochi and Airborne Operation Air force School, New Delhi.[11]

Deployment

The commandos are known as "Thunderbolts" and are mostly used to battle the Left Wing Extremism. They are deployed in various maoist insurgency affected districts in kerala. Commandos are also stationed in major cities of Kozhikode, Kochi, and Thiruvananthapuram as "Avengers-The Urban Commandos," which are used in emergency scenarios like VIP abductions or obstruction, hostage crisis and urban-terrorism and insurgencies.[13] A third squad of commandos is tasked with protecting the chief minister of Kerala in the meantime.

See also

References
  1. "Thunderbolt Commandos Failed to Trace Maoists". Just Kerala. 28 October 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  2. "IRB unit of Kerala police bags national-level recognition". The Times of India. 20 January 2022.
  3. "Thunder Bolts add feather to Kerala Police". Mathrubhumi. UNI. 14 August 2012. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  4. "Kerala Thunder Bolts ready for action". Business Line. PTI. 13 August 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  5. "Thunderbolts' training period will be added in service records: CM - The New Indian Express". www.newindianexpress.com. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  6. "IRB unit of Kerala police bags national-level recognition". The Times of India. 20 January 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  7. "Kerala police mull Special Operational Group to counter Maoists - The New Indian Express". www.newindianexpress.com. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  8. "Kerala Timeline 2013". South Asia Terrorism Portal. Institute for Conflict Management. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  9. "Thunderbolt team begins hunt for Maoists in Western Ghats". The New Indian Express. Thrissur. Express News Service. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  10. "Thunderbolt team set to go Hi-tech". The New Indian Express. Kochi. Express News Service. 27 May 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  11. "Kerala gets approval for 2nd battalion of Thunderbolts: CM". Chennai Online. 24 August 2012. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  12. "Thunderbolts commandos of Kerala Police undergo anti-extremist training in Odisha".
  13. "Kerala state forms Avengers to combat 'urban threats'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
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