Thiruvananthapuram:
'Kerala Thunder Bolts,' the first commando force of Kerala police under the India Reserve Battalion (IRB) will begin operations by the end of this month.
Two companies of Thunder Bolts, having 160 personnel, were being recruited after two years of rigorous and specialised training, R Sreelekha, ADGP (Armed Police Battalion) told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram today.
Forty more personnel are now being trained and would be absorbed into the force later, she said.
The passing-out parade of the commandos will be held on August 24. A tactical demonstration of the first batch would be held at the Chandrasekharan Nair stadium in Thiruvanathapuram tomorrow in the presence of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan.
The commando force had been trained to have the expertise of National Security Guards and Special Protection Group. CRPF Assistant Commandant L Solomon had been working as the mentor trainer of the force, Sreelekha said.
The commandos are in the 18-21 age group and had been imparted training in battle obstacles assault course, mob operation, jungle warfare, anti-terrorism, counter urban insurgency, bomb detection and disposal, disaster management, underwater and airborne operations.
Their equipment are of world standards, including tactical vests, light weight bullet jackets, tactical boots, hi-tech communication devices, satellite phones, night vision devices and specially designed helmets, she said.