Taking cognizance of the growing Maoist violence in the country, now spread over 13 states, the Government has decided to establish a specialised commando unit to fight the Naxal menace.

COBRA (Command Battalions for Resolute Action) will be a 10,000-men strong force, with 10 battalions, and take on the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army, the military wing of the CPI (Maoists).

Sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs stated that the proposal for setting up COBRA has been finalised and will be sent to the Union Cabinet for final approval. The creation of this new force is also being viewed as an admission by the Government of the fact that central paramilitary forces and state police have proved ineffective in dealing with the worsening extremist problem.

Once the proposal is approved by the Cabinet, the commando force is expected to be raised within six months and be ready for deployment within a year. The personnel will be vigorously trained in counter-insurgency and jungle-warfare tactics for six months and will report to the CRPF.

The force will be on the lines of Andhra Pradesh's Greyhounds, the elite anti-Naxalite unit that has been lauded for its successes against extremists in the state. Greyhounds are also currently spearheading anti-Naxalite operations in Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh.

Interestingly, K Durga Prasad, who was posted as the Additional Director General of Police (Greyhounds) with the Andhra police, recently joined the CRPF as the Inspector General of Police. "The battalions will be placed under the direct command of K Durga Prasad... He has been brought on deputation to the Central Government so that he is able to lead anti-Naxalite operations in various states," sources said.

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