Thread by @KushalSinha001

Andhra/Telangana Greyhounds (GH)
NAXAL HUNTERS (PART 2)

Behind the success story of Greyhound Commandos. What made them 'the best anti naxal cdo unit' ?

Thread contains info about their history, trg, structure and mode of operation.

But before we start, I'd like to pay my respect to Late K.S Vyas IPS (AP:1974) founder of Greyhounds and State Intelligence Bureau (SIB), person who crafted the initial trg modules. Sadly KS Vyas was gunned down by Maoists on 27 Jan 1993.

•Announced - 6 June 1988
•Established - 1989

•Founders - Late KS Vyas (then SP) & Durga Prasad (then IG)

•HQ - outskirts of Hyderabad.

The 1st batch in '89 had 886 cdo and total the force has around 2700-3000 cdo. Although the exact number remains classified.

•GH is the first dedicated anti naxal unit in India, before GHs, police depts of Naxal affected states had (Special Task Force) STFs but they weren't dedicated to 1 task.
• GHs flushed out Naxals from Vijayanagaram, Vizag, Khammam, Godavari and Srikakulam.

•GHs recruit from regular police. They serve a period of 3 yrs and join their parent unit. Every new Sub-inspector, DySP & IPS has to undergo basic jungle warfare traning w GH. IPS of AP and Telangana cadre have to devote their initial years in the force as ASPs and AdSP

•Training is carried out at Hyderabad and Vizag
•The unique thing about their trg is that they have 800 anticipated modules during which trains them for almost every scenario
•GH Cdos get 60% of their basic pay as allowance, which is 1 of the highest in the country.

SO WHAT MADE GREYHOUNDS EFFICIENT AND SUCESSFUL?

1) Training - their intense trg is famous not only in India but across the world. They Recieved visitors from abroad and the 800 anticipated modules really equips the Cdo for the job.

2) Incentive to fight - 60% of basic pay as allowance + faster promotions have really proved to be good incentives.

3) Ops - Unlike other anti naxal units, GHs, sometimes carries out independent ops, during independent ops their logistics is handled by the Disct SP.

HOW DO GREYHOUNDS OPERATE?

GH are deployed in what's called Joint Operational Bases (JOBs). 1 JOB had 2 GH Coys, 2 Platoons of Home Guards (Scouts) & some other elements. At any given point GHs had 4 Platoons ready.

• Apart from the 6 rifle coys a GH unit has 1 Admin Coy & 1 Trg Coy at their Bttln HQ.
• The admin structure of GH is as follows -
ADG (Ops) → IGP (Ops) → DIG (Ops) → Dist SP

• The success can be measured from the rate of ops and kills, Bw 2005-08, thr group brought the Maoists cadre from 1200 to 500. Attacks dropped from a peak 500 in 2003 to 100 in 2010.
• 1 more adv of GH is the compulsory trg of all personnel. This boosts overall capabilities

And makes the Disct police personnel aware of tactics (warfare & IED), physically fit and enhances their Intelligence gathering capabilities.

Really sorry, I couldn't gather much into about their weapons and armoury, but I'll try and update the thread later.

• The biggest blow to GH was when Maoists killed 38 Cdos in Balimela reservoir in 2008.
• The unit also has 1 Ashok Chakra - Late Sub Inspector K. Prasad Babu

To sum it up, reasons why Greyhounds are considered to be th best are -
• Independent ops launched from JOBS (sometimes)
• Strong Incentives (allowance & promo)
• Strong intelligence grid

Recently Gautam Sawang IPS DGP Andhra was spotted carrying out trials of X-95, Uzi Pro of PLR Systems - IWI JV & handed over Glock 19X to Andhra Pradesh Police officials. Maybe we can expect Andhra GH to get X-95 in large number.
Also, Greyhounds usually prefer AR-M1 and SLR

Lastly, I completely forgot to mention in the concluding point (which is the most important). Reason why Greyhounds are the best is because of their TRAINING. 800 modules prepares them well. Their facility has trained Anti Naxal units of various states & CI units of other nations

Tomorrow, Chhattisgarh STF and DRG !