Moin Khan at 15:16, 23 February 2026

2026-02-23T15:16:09Z

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{{Short description|Indian police unit}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox law enforcement unit
| unit_name = Kerala Thunderbolts
| native_name = 
| native_namea = 
| native_namer = 
| image = Kerala Thunderbolts logo (HD).png
| image_size = 150px
| alt =
| caption = Insignia of Kerala Thunderbolts
| dates = 2012 – present
| country = {{flagicon|India}} [[India]]
| agency = [[File:Flag of Kerala Police.svg|23px]] [[Kerala Police]]
| type = [[Police tactical unit]]
| role = [[Air assault]] Anti-irregular military [[Bodyguard]] [[Bomb disposal]] [[Clandestine operation]] [[Close-quarters battle]] [[Counterinsurgency]] [[Counterterrorism]] [[Crowd control]] [[Direct action (military)|Direct action]] [[Emergency management]] [[Force protection]] Hostage rescue [[Jungle warfare]] [[Law enforcement]] [[Long-range penetration]] [[Manhunt (law enforcement)|Manhunt]] [[Mountain warfare]] [[Parachuting]] [[Patrolling]] [[Raid (military)|Raiding]] [[Riot control]] [[Reconnaissance]] [[Search and rescue]] [[Special operations]] [[Special reconnaissance]] [[Tracking (Scouting)|Tracking]] [[Urban warfare]]
| ops_juris = [[Kerala]]
| command_structure = [[India Reserve Battalion]] (IRBn)
| headquarters_label =
| headquarters = [[Thrissur]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.justkerala.in/thunderbolt-commandos-failed-to-trace-maoists.php
|title=Thunderbolt Commandos Failed to Trace Maoists|date=28 October 2013 |publisher=Just Kerala|accessdate=2014-12-11}}</ref>
| coordinates =
| motto = Swift, Strong and Secure
| motto_translated =
| common_name =
| abbreviation = 
| sworn_type_label = Officers
| sworn = 200
| unsworn_type_label =
| unsworn =
| subunit_type_label = Squads
| subunits = {{plainlist}}
* Avengers {{Smaller|(Urban Commandos)}}<ref>{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/irb-unit-of-kerala-police-bags-national-level-recognition/articleshow/89007010.cms | title=IRB unit of Kerala police bags national-level recognition | newspaper=The Times of India | date=20 January 2022 }}</ref>
* Scorpions {{Smaller|(Regular Wing)}}
{{endplainlist}}
| station_type_label =
| stations = 
| current_commander = Superintendent of Police (Operations)
| notable_commanders = 
| programs = 
| significant_operations =
| anniversaries = 24 August
| awards = 
| vehicles =
| boats =
| aircraft =
| animals = 
| website = 
}}

'''Kerala Thunderbolts''' is a [[police tactical unit]] 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 carry out anti-irregular military, apprehension of armed and dangerous criminals, counterinsurgency in [[Kerala]], counter possible terror strikes, emergency management for search and rescue of disaster victims, executive protection, high-risk tactical law enforcement situations, hostage rescue, operating in difficult to access terrain especially in mountainous forest areas, long-range penetration, providing security in areas at risk of attack or terrorism in Kerala, support crowd control and riot control, and other tactical special operations.

The force modeled on the [[Special Protection Group]] and [[National Security Guard]] are trained to engage in air, water and land attacks.<ref name=mbumi>{{cite news|title=Thunder Bolts add feather to Kerala Police |url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/story.php?id=127184 |accessdate=3 September 2013 |newspaper=Mathrubhumi |date=14 August 2012 |agency=UNI |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816110441/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/story.php?id=127184 |archivedate=16 August 2012 }}</ref><ref name=hbl>{{cite news|title=Kerala Thunder Bolts ready for action|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/states/kerala-thunder-bolts-ready-for-action/article3762385.ece|accessdate=3 September 2013|newspaper=Business Line|date=13 August 2012|agency=PTI}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Thunderbolts' training period will be added in service records: CM - The New Indian Express |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2020/Jan/05/thunderbolts-training-period-will-be-added-in-service-records-cm-2085223.html |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=www.newindianexpress.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-01-20 |title=IRB unit of Kerala police bags national-level recognition |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/irb-unit-of-kerala-police-bags-national-level-recognition/articleshow/89007010.cms |access-date=2023-04-28 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kerala police mull Special Operational Group to counter Maoists - The New Indian Express |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2019/Mar/08/cops-mull-spl-operational-group-to-counter-maoists-1948637.html |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=www.newindianexpress.com}}</ref>

== 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.<ref name=satp>{{cite web|title=Kerala Timeline 2013|url=http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/maoist/timelines/2013/Kerala.htm|work=South Asia Terrorism Portal|publisher=Institute for Conflict Management|accessdate=3 September 2013}}</ref>
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.<ref name=satp /><ref>{{cite news|title=Thunderbolt team begins hunt for Maoists in Western Ghats|url=http://newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Thunderbolt-team-begins-hunt-for-Maoists-in-Western-Ghats/2013/05/14/article1589196.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223042831/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Thunderbolt-team-begins-hunt-for-Maoists-in-Western-Ghats/2013/05/14/article1589196.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 December 2014|accessdate=3 September 2013|newspaper=The New Indian Express|date=14 May 2013|agency=Express News Service|location=Thrissur}}</ref>{{Multiple image
| direction = vertical
| image1 =
| caption1 = Ashok Leyland Medium bulletproof Vehicle (MBPV), armoured vehicle of Thunderbolts.
}}

== Selection and training ==

The Commando police 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.<ref name=TNE>{{cite news|title=Thunderbolt team set to go Hi-tech|url=http://newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Thunderbolt-team-set-to-go-Hi-tech/2013/05/27/article1607887.ece|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131003023214/http://newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Thunderbolt-team-set-to-go-Hi-tech/2013/05/27/article1607887.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 October 2013|accessdate=3 September 2013|newspaper=The New Indian Express|date=27 May 2013|agency=Express News Service|location=Kochi}}</ref>
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.<ref name=2ndbatt /> Thunderbolts commandos are being trained at Special Operations Group, an elite commando police force of the Kerala Police.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2021/jul/30/thunderbolts-commandos-of-kerala-police-undergo-anti-extremist-training-in-odisha-2337678.html | title=Thunderbolts commandos of Kerala Police undergo anti-extremist training in Odisha }}</ref>

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]].<ref name=2ndbatt>{{cite web|title=Kerala gets approval for 2nd battalion of Thunderbolts: CM |url=http://news.chennaionline.com/newsitem.aspx?NEWSID=7f5a0a82-294b-4fbd-9cf2-317a96d342fa=South |publisher=Chennai Online |accessdate=3 September 2013 |date=24 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129025619/http://news.chennaionline.com/newsitem.aspx?NEWSID=7f5a0a82-294b-4fbd-9cf2-317a96d342fa%3DSouth |archivedate=29 November 2014 }}</ref>

== Deployment ==
The commandos are known as "Thunderbolts" and are mostly used to battle [[Naxalite–Maoist insurgency|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 apprehension of armed and dangerous criminals, emergency scenarios like VIPs abductions or obstruction, hostage crisis, prison riot (if necessary), protection of senior executives of government agencies at risk of harm, providing security in areas at risk of attack or terrorism, and urban terrorism and insurgencies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kerala state forms Avengers to combat 'urban threats' |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/feb/18/kerala-state-forms-avengers-to-combat-urban-threats-2548490.html |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> A third squad of commandos is tasked with protecting the chief minister of Kerala in the meantime.

== See also ==
* [[Nilambur incident]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Law enforcement agencies of India}}

[[Category:Non-military counterterrorist organizations]]
[[Category:Kerala Police]]
[[Category:2012 establishments in Kerala]]

Kerala Thunderbolts - Revision history

Moin Khan at 15:16, 23 February 2026