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A 160-member elite commando force, Kerala Thunderbolts, has been formed to tackle possible terror strikes in the State.
Equipped with modern gadgets, the commandos, in the age group of 18 to 20, have completed 18 months of rigorous training at various Special Forces institutions across the country.
ADGP (Armed Police Battalion) R. Sreelekha told reporters on Monday that Thunderbolts would be part of the India Reserve Battalion being set up in accordance with the centres directions post- Mumbai terror strike.
Thunderbolts personnel, modeled on National Security Guard and the Special Protection Group, have been trained to engage in air, water and land attacks.
They are trained in unarmed combat, mob operation, criminal psychology, cyber crime and equipped with weapons and gadgets,M4 carbines,Steyr rifles, including MP5 machine guns, Glock 19 pistols, MP5 submachine guns, ballistic shields, tactical vehicles, Diocom sat phone, bomb robots, Tasers (electroshock weapon) and stun grenades.
They are also trained to handle most international anti-terror gadgets. They will wear four types of uniforms; green camouflage for jungle warfare, blue shade on black for operations, black for night operation and navy blue safari suit for VVIP security. They have special vehicles and expect a copter soon from the Centre.
The crack force would be on continuous training to keep them battle-ready, said IG (HQ) Manoj Abraham.
They were selected after a rigorous physical and mental screening. A chief trainer with the CRPF, assistant commandant L. Solomon, led the mentor training and a panel, headed by DGP K.S.Jangpangi, dr-afted the training module.
Thunderbolts passing-out parade is scheduled for August 24. But before that they will display skills at Chandrasekharan Nair st-adium here on August 14.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radha-krishnan, DGP Jacob Punnoose and senior officers will attend. The demo is open to public.
Thunderbolts strike force | Deccan Chronicle
