Greyhounds & Intelligence Units Face Major Restructuring as Maoist Threat Declines!

With Left-wing extremism that once dominated the region for nearly four and a half decades now reaching its final phase, major structural changes are expected within the police department. The elite Greyhounds commando force and the Special Intelligence Branch (SIB), which played a crucial role in anti-Maoist operations for years, are likely to see their roles reduced. The government is reportedly considering cutting manpower and expenditure allocated to these units, questioning the need for maintaining special forces when Maoist presence in the state has almost disappeared. Reports also indicate that the Central Government has advised states to gradually dismantle special anti-Left-wing extremism divisions.

The Greyhounds unit, conceptualized by IPS officer K.S. Vyas to counter guerrilla-style Maoist attacks, earned global recognition for its specialized jungle warfare training and swift strike capabilities. Commandos undergo intense training to survive in forests for days, carry out long-distance operations, and execute precision missions based on intelligence gathered by the SIB. With Maoist activity drastically declining — reportedly only a handful of cadres remaining — the relevance of these specialized wings is being reassessed. Reduction in central funding and administrative restructuring could eventually lead to the phased withdrawal of both Greyhounds and SIB units, once considered the pride of the police force.