Abingdonboy
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TRIVANDRUM Kerala Thunder Bolts, the first commando force of the of Kerala formed for combat operations, is ready for action.
A total of 200 youths trained on the lines of the National Security Guards or NSG have been officially inducted into the state police on Friday after they completed nearly two years of rigorous and specialiswed training.
The passing out parade of the elite force was witnessed by State Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister Thiruvanchiyoor Radhakrishnan at the Special Armed Police or SAP Grounds at Peroorkkada.
The commando force underwent intensive training in battle obstacles assault course, mob operation, jungle warfare, anti-terrorism, counter urban insurgency, bomb detection and disposal, disaster management, under water and airborne operations under a senior Central Reserve Police Force officer. The commandos have been trained to handle advanced weapons like Kalashnikov, Insas, Tavor and TAR-21 besides most types of explosives. The men had undergone special training in Krav Maga, the martial combat of Israeli army, and in jungle warfare under the Army.
The force, divided into six platoons, will be assigned for the south, central and north zones of the police with advanced weapons and communication system. They will have weapons like Italian SPAS 12 semi-automatic combat shot guns, Austrian Glock 17 semi-automatic 9 mm pistol, Steyr sniper rifles, Heckler & Koch submachine guns, ARGES hand grenades, synthetic bullet proof body armour and bullet proof vests.
Speaking after inspecting the parade, the chief minister said that the force was raised on the directions of the federal government to combat mainly terrorism and insurgency. He said that the state had received approval for raising another batch considering its special needs. Kerala, which was considered free of the terrorism menace, came to be known as a breeding ground for terrorists after the police busted some terrorist training networks following the death of three youths on the Kashmir-Pak border in 2009.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which investigated some cases related to the training and a few terror acts, recently described the state as the fountainhead of certain terror operations in the country.
The agency said religious extremism has spread its roots in the state through hawala networks found mainly in the northern districts of Kasaragod, Kannur, Calicut and Malappuram. NIA has also expressed fear that the roots of extremism may have penetrated into the states police force.
Keralas first commando force is ready for action
