Profiling 9 Elite Special Forces In India

A nation the size of India needs a variety of special forces dedicated to preserving the peace. With our many borders and threats from domestic and international terrorists India has adapted to these enemies with elite forces capable of inspiring fear in even the most radical insurgent. These forces are not designed as vehicles of death, but as a defense line so menacing, potential threats know there will be hell to pay as far as repercussions go.

Here is a selection of India’s ultimate special forces, working day and night for the nation’s security.

I. Para commandos

Est. 1966

Nickname: Red Devils

The Special Operations Para Commandos are the goto troopers for behind enemy line combat. Due to the nature of the SpecOps Para Commandos they see most of their action outside the nation, or directly on its borders. Their most recent operation was a cross border surgical strike in Pakistan, where they quickly dismantled enemy launch pads and eliminated approximately 50 enemy targets. However, they have, also, participated in United Nation operations in the Gaza Strip and Korea. Generally, each SpecOPs Para Commando unit is trained for operating in a specific terrain or condition, however, the 10th unit not only specialises in desert warfare but is cross-trained in all other aspects of potential conditions and terrain.

II. MARCOS

Est. 1987

Tag line: The Few The Fearless.

Known as: “Dadiwala fauj” (bearded army)

To put it simply, the Marcos are way scarier than Colombia’s narcos, an incredibly bad joke that conveys an incredibly true fact. With an attrition rate of 90 percent and rigorous training that lasts over two years being a part of the Marcos is not for the faint hearted, or basically any normal human being. In training all their weapons carry live ammo, so soldiers understand how to respect their weapons. Speaking of weapons their standard rifle is the Israeli Tavor TAR-21 assault rifle (with an attachable 40 mm grenade launcher ), which is weather sealed allowing MARCOS to emerge out of the ocean and fire their weapon, which is exactly what they did when they fought the LTTE at Sri Lanka’s Jaffna Jetty. They are also proficient in Mandarin and Arabic, can shoot running backwards and are allowed to grow beards so they blend in with civilians when necessary. They have recently battled Somali pirates, which to no surprise, was an easy feat for these Indian elite.

III. Garud Commando Force

Est. 2004

Garud commandos are directly recruited to be trained as a special force and remain in their unit for the rest of their careers. Although their primary prerogative is to defend Air Force bases, they also partake in counter insurgency ops and airborne operations. Presently, Garud units are operating as peacekeepers in the Congo under a UN initiative.

IV. Special Frontier Force

Est. 1962

The Special Frontier Force is a covert paramilitary special force that was created as a response to the Indo-Sino War. At the time of its conception the majority of the force was made up of Tibetans, who were trained to operate behind enemy lines. However, the Special Frontier Force is now used as an elite special operations and counter-insurgency force. The SFFs most important operation to date was Operation Meghdoot, a part of the Siachen battle of 1985-86, and until date a unit has always guarded the Siachen Glacier. The SFF operates under RAW, India’s external intelligence agency, and reports directly to the Directorate General of Security. The force is currently trained in guerilla tactics, for mountainous or jungle battle zones with extreme weather conditions.

V. Cobras

Est. 2008

The Commando Battalion for Resolute Action was created as a direct counter to India’s Naxalite guerilla fighters. This Indian special force fights fire with fire by using guerilla warfare as their primary fighting objective against the insurgents once feared for their guerilla tactics. Cobras excel in camouflage, ambushes, sniping and jungle warfare. However, their purpose is beyond exterminating the Naxalites, as their primary objective is to disarm the underground Naxalite movement.This year, Usha Kiran was admitted into Cobra, becoming the first woman to join their ranks. Posted in Bastar, she is nicknamed aptly as ‘Lady Singham’.

VI. National Security Guard

Est. 1984

Nickname: Black Cats

The National Security Guard (NSG) was created by the Cabinet Secretariat as a counter-terrorism force, and is internationally acclaimed as a special force to be reckoned with. They are based on Germany’s GSG 9, who turned the NSG into a veritable anti-terror squad after the Mumbai attacks of 2008. The NSG are trained to only take head shots, that to with the ‘double tap system’, which means their target gets two slugs in their noggin. And if you are wondering how they can take head shots with such accuracy you haven’t heard about their Battle Inoculation Program. NSG operatives have to shoot targets with their fellow agents standing right next to them. That kind of pressure conditioning will give you a grip as steady as steel.

VII. Creek Crocodile Commandos

Est. 2009

The Creek Crocodile Commandos are the elite faction of the Border Security Force (BSF), and are tasked with patrolling the long stretch of intersecting creeks on the Gujrat and Pakistan border. They use high-speed boats to patrol parts of the Gulf of Kutch that are deep enough. The murky marshland that cannot be patrolled by boat is covered by units of Creek Crocodile Commandos, who camouflage themselves and lurk dangerously in the unwelcoming terrain. Any terrorist who manages to cross the hostile terrain is sure to meet the unexpected bite of a Creek Crocodile Commando bullet.

VIII. Ghatak

Est. Unknown

The Ghatak Platoon, otherwise known as the Ghatak Commandos, is a platoon of special operations infantry. These platoons are comprised of 20 soldiers who are selected as the best soldiers in a battalion. Every battalion in the Indian Army has a Ghatak platoon. The soldiers in these platoons live up to their Hindi name, a deadly or lethal force, designed to spearhead army attacks. The Ghatak Commandos are heavily equipped with modern weaponry, the assault commandos of the platoon carry either a Tavor TAR-21, INSAS or a modified version of the AK-47, and the snipers are either equipped with a Dragunov SVD or a Heckler & Koch MSG-90. Their primary function is to conduct raids. The most recent raids conducted by Ghatak platoons were on terror camps located close to the Kashmir border. These raids took place due to last year’s Uri attack and were carried out by those who lost fellow soldiers during the Uri attack. Army higher ups felt this decision would help soldiers gain closure over the terrorist attack on the Uri base, as well as, put the fear of god into terrorists who encountered them. The Ghatak platoons are best compared to the US Marines Scout Sniper Platoons.

IX. Special Protection Group

Est. 1985

The Special Protection Group (SPG) is tasked with securing the lives of the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister’s immediate family, former Prime Ministers as well as other top government officials. The SPG was created after Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her own body guards. The SPG has female agents, so they can offer complete protection to female officials.

Feature image of Indian Air Force’s Garud Commando force via Ultimate Military Tech on Facebook