THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Questions have been raised over the state’s preparedness to face terror strikes in the wake of the Punjab incident on Monday.
Kerala pins its hopes on an array of forces available, including the state's Quick Response Teams, Thunderbolt commandos, local units of the Army, Navy, Air Force and other central police forces and the National Security Guard in neighbouring Chennai.
“We have sufficient resources to deal with a terror situation and mock drills and joint intelligence meetings of heads of state and central agencies are held frequently. But only when a real strike happens, our actual preparedness and skills will be known,” an IPS officer said.
The major anti-terror wing is now available with the state in the 200-member Thunderbolt commando unit formed in 2012 as part of the central schemes to enhance security post- Mumbai terror strike.
The commandos are being selected through stringent physical and endurance tests and put to rigorous two-year training in skills like anti-terror operations, counter urban insurgency and jungle warfare.
They are equipped with advanced rifles and pistols like X95, MP5, MMG and Glock, bomb robot, ballistic shields, tactical vehicles and satellite phones.
According to a senior police officer, in case of any terror strike, the first respondent would be the state's armed police forces and Quick Response Teams that are available in all ranges.
Since their capabilities in dealing with gunfire are limited, their main role would be to cordon off the area until other forces arrive. The Thunderbolts are usually stationed across the state so that their services could be ensured quickly at any part of the state.
“The local resources of Army, Navy and Air Force as well as other central forces could also be pressed into service in case of an emergency. Joint meetings of the security agencies are held frequently to ensure a better coordination among the state and central agencies,” said the officer.
The NSG, which is the elite anti-terror force in the nation, is also not too distant for Kerala now. Following the Mumbai terror strike, the NSG's regional hubs were set up in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata. Kerala would get the service of NSG's Chennai unit at minimum time, sources pointed out.
