The elite unit’s performance at the 15th All India Police Commando Competition in Gurugram exposed serious concerns about its operational readiness, leading many within the police calling for a reality check.
Published Feb 25, 2025 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 25, 2025 | 9:00 AM
Synopsis: The elite Thunderbolt commandos of the Kerala Police, initially established to counter terror threats, are now grappling with an ageing force, outdated equipment, and severe mental health challenges. Once expected to be young and agile, many commandos are now past their physical prime, leading to concerns over their combat readiness, low morale, and rising stress levels, with some even battling suicidal tendencies.
The Kerala Police’s elite Thunderbolt commandos were established after the 2008 Mumbai attacks to counter potential terror strikes. Tasked with counterinsurgency and other high-risk operations, they were meant to be young, swift, and razor-sharp.
Yet, most commandos in the elite reserve battalion are now over 30, an age when physical abilities begin to decline. But age is just the tip of the iceberg.
South First has found that the force is struggling with mental health issues, dissatisfaction, burnout, suicidal tendencies, and fears of dropout, putting the state’s premier commando unit in distress. Without urgent intervention, this force, meant to protect others, risks crumbling from within.
The elite unit’s performance at the 15th All India Police Commando Competition in Gurugram exposed serious concerns about its operational readiness, leading many within the police calling for a reality check.
The competition tested the commandos’ physical endurance, tactical skills, and mental toughness, pushing participants to their limits. But Kerala’s Thunderbolt team stood out for the wrong reasons.
The force finished second last in the rankings – an alarming outcome for a unit expected to be the state’s first line of defence in high-risk operations.
Commandos during the competition
Unlike other states’ teams, which had younger, fitter commandos aged between 20 and 25, Kerala’s team was the oldest in the competition, with all members aged 30 and above.
This glaring age difference earned them the mocking sobriquet ‘Boodha Team’ (Old Team) among their counterparts. A senior police officer admitted that the ageing force raises serious questions about its combat readiness:
“Thunderbolt is engaged in special operations, and its members need to be in peak physical and mental shape. Right now, we don’t know how they will hold up in a tough crisis.”
A Thunderbolt commando, speaking to South First, echoed these concerns:
“Unfortunately, we are grossly underprepared. Health standards and endurance levels are not up to the mark. Many of us are injury-prone, and age is a major factor.”
He revealed a policy loophole that has contributed to this crisis. Commandos join the force at 18-21 years of age and were originally meant to be redeployed to the Kerala Civil Police Force after 10 years.
However, due to indecision from the state government, most continue to serve beyond their prime years, reducing overall agility and effectiveness.
“Can you believe there are commandos in Thunderbolt aged 35 and above? No elite force in the world would deploy personnel of this age for high-risk special operations,” he said.
Apart from age-related concerns, the lack of modern equipment is another major challenge. The commando pointed out that their weapons, ammunition, and bulletproof vests are outdated and inadequate for tackling sophisticated threats.
“The kind of threats the world is facing today require cutting-edge gear. We are still using outdated equipment, which makes us vulnerable if a serious crisis unfolds,” said the personnel.
Commandos during firing session
A senior officer remarked that Kerala’s Thunderbolt team has not yet faced significant, high-stakes missions – except for occasional Maoist operations. Even in these engagements, the Maoist presence in the state is minimal, making encounters relatively manageable.
But he warned that if Kerala were to need a serious counterterrorism operation, the Thunderbolt force’s true capabilities would be tested like never before:
“Right now, we are in a safe zone. But should a high-risk mission come our way, will the force be able to handle it? That’s the real question,” he said.
Meanwhile, a crisis is brewing within Kerala’s India Reserve Battalion (IRB), as several commandos prepare to challenge the government’s decision to withhold their long-awaited transfers to the Kerala Civil Police (KCP).
The IRB, formed under Union Home Ministry directives, has two wings: the regular wing, responsible for high-security prison duty and station deployment in Maoist-affected areas, and the commando wing, tasked with VIP security, counterterrorism operations, and protecting key sites like the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
As per recruitment rules issued in 2009, constables in the IRB were eligible for transfer to the District Armed Reserve after ten years of service. However, despite meeting the required tenure, many personnel have been denied transfers, prompting legal action.
A Home Department document from February 2024 highlights grievances, noting that while some have secured transfers through interim orders from the Kerala Administrative Tribunal, senior officers remain stuck.
The government, citing a severe manpower shortage, argues that granting transfers would cripple IRB operations, as recruiting replacements could take two years. However, aggrieved personnel blame administrative delays in reporting vacancies.
Another factor contributing to the woeful state of the elite Thunderbolt unit is stress.
Multiple personnel South First spoke to described an alarming crisis within the force. They alleged severe mental and physical strain, worsened by harassment, neglect, and lack of support from senior officers.
A commando engaged in special operations recounted a chilling personal experience..
“Once, I was rebuked by an officer. I was already dealing with some family issues, and in a fit of rage, I decided to end my life. As I was preparing to hang myself at the camp, my buddy saw me and gave me a hard slap,” he said. “That brought me back to reality. I don’t even know what pushed me to that point. Such is our mental condition.”
Despite the presence of mechanisms to address mental health concerns, personnel say they are largely ineffective and superficial.
Commandos during a mock drill
Another commando told South First that he plans to resign at the first opportunity, unable to bear the relentless mental and physical trauma.
“By rule, most of us should have been deployed in the Kerala Civil Police Force by now, but we remain stuck here. We joined this force with passion, but the apathy of the authorities has turned that passion into frustration. Every day feels like a battle – not just for survival, but against the very system that keeps us trapped. This isn’t just bad for us; it’s bad for everyone around us.”
The high-stress nature of their job, compounded by a lack of emotional support, is creating a silent crisis within the force.
The revelations from within the Thunderbolt unit point to a deeper institutional crisis that needs immediate redress.
Furthermore, Thunderbolt, expected to function as a highly coordinated, cohesive unit, has been fragmented by internal politics, claim sources within the force.
A deep dive by South First has revealed that the very fabric of the force – built on teamwork, trust, and specialised training – is crumbling due to internal divisions, officer apathy, and systemic failures.
Officers with little knowledge of special operations have allegedly imposed impractical orders, compromising operational efficiency.
One of the biggest casualties of this dysfunction is the buddy system, a crucial framework where each commando is paired with a partner who becomes their trusted companion in both training and combat.
Shockingly, there have been instances where these “buddies” have allegedly betrayed their partners for petty personal gains.
The recent tragic deaths of commandos have further eroded the morale of the force. While the official causes remain undisclosed, sources say the losses have deeply affected their colleagues’ psyche.
On 15 December 2024, Vineeth C, a commando with the Special Operations Group, died by suicide inside the washroom at the Areekode camp, succumbing to a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
While the ongoing police investigation suggests family issues as a possible cause, his colleagues tell a different story – one of relentless harassment and unbearable work pressure.
Fellow commandos claim Vineeth’s death was not merely a personal tragedy but the direct result of Assistant Commandant Ajith Kumar’s high-handedness. They allege Vineeth had been on the officer’s radar ever since he spoke up for a fallen comrade – another commando who had died during training three years ago.
In a rare and strongly worded resolution, the State Police Association condemned the “inhumane treatment meted out towards subordinates by senior officers.” The resolution went further, stating unequivocally that “this death cannot be seen merely as a suicide committed under stress.”
It also criticised the commando training regimen, highlighting its rigidity and failure to provide age-based relaxation in efficiency standards – unlike elite forces such as the National Security Guard (NSG).
The controversy surrounding Areekode camp does not end with Vineeth’s case. The death of Suneesh, an Adivasi youth and member of the Thunderbolt force, has only deepened concerns.
Commandoes during a training session
A 2012 batch IRB commando, Suneesh collapsed and died during a rigorous training session at the Malabar Special Police Camp. Though rushed first to a private hospital in Areekode and later to a private medical college, his life could not be saved.
Sources indicate Suneesh had post-COVID complications, yet was pushed through gruelling drills without adequate medical precautions. What makes his death even more unsettling is a claim by one of his fellow commandos:
“He collapsed right there during training. We believe that if CPR had been administered immediately, his life could have been saved. But that didn’t happen.”
A commando also voiced frustration over the leadership’s disregard for personnel welfare:
“Those who are responsible for our mental and physical fitness pay scant regard to the same.”
Many personnel are reportedly struggling with post-COVID complications, which severely impact their performance during training.
However, instead of offering support, the leadership remains rigid about maintaining physical fitness stipulations, often ignoring individual health struggles.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
