COBRA<\/b>\u00a0(backronym<\/a>\u00a0for\u00a0CO<\/b>mmando\u00a0B<\/b>attalion for\u00a0R<\/b>esolute\u00a0A<\/b>ction<\/i>) is a\u00a0special operation<\/a>\u00a0unit of the\u00a0Central Reserve Police Force<\/a>\u00a0(CRPF) of\u00a0India<\/a>\u00a0proficient in\u00a0guerrilla<\/a>\u00a0tactics and jungle warfare. Originally established to counter the\u00a0Naxalite movement<\/a>,[<\/span>4]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>5]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0CoBRA is deployed to address insurgent groups engaging in\u00a0asymmetrical warfare<\/a>.[<\/span>6]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Numbering ten battalions as of 2011,[<\/span>1]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0CoBRA is considered to be one of the most experienced and successful law enforcement units in the country.[<\/span>1]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n [<\/span>edit<\/a>]<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n In 2009, the\u00a0MHA<\/a>\u00a0approved the raising of 10 CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) to meet the challenges posed by the Naxal rebels.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The unit was initially raised to counter the\u00a0Naxal<\/a>\u00a0insurgents in the\u00a0Red Corridor<\/a>.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The regiment initially started off with 2 battalions, in 2009, followed by the raising of another 8 battalions in 2 years.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n CoBRA Battalions are trained to conduct operations against insurgents in all manners of rugged terrain.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The highly efficient personnel are chosen from the\u00a0CRPF<\/a>\u00a0and are conditioned with rigorous physical endurance, and taught the planning and execution of operations,\u00a0GPS<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0map reading<\/a>, gathering of intelligence, and\u00a0Fast-Roping<\/a>\u00a0amongst other activities. The highly efficient personnel are trained and specialized in various fields including but not limited to guerrilla warfare, explosive tracking and bomb disposal, field engineering, survival, and jungle warfare.<\/p>\n Special intelligence courses have been conducted by premier intelligence agencies to train troops in intelligence gathering.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0To maintain the uniformity of standards and the evolution of a unique ethos as well as training of troops. A dedicated CoBRA school of jungle warfare & tactics is in the works.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n The founder of CoBRA,\u00a0DIG<\/a>\u00a0K.V. Madhusudhanan, spoke about the CoBRA’s unit’s rules of engagement in an interview. “The Maoist menace is a grievance-driven movement and ideology-driven insurgency. Hence, CoBRA would require new tactical doctrines, skills and resources. While the Maoist struggle is total\u2014no time limit or fixed geographical target\u2014CoBRA had to operate under limitations of law. There were no drawn lines of conflict, and CoBRA had to account for every person apprehended, injured or killed. The extremists have no such liabilities.”[<\/span>8]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n Since its inception, the unit has been successful in the taking down of 61 Naxals, and the apprehension of 886 more. They have also recovered vast amounts of ammunition dumps, along with arms and explosives.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The CoBRA personnel’s efforts have also been acknowledged with more than 200 commendation disc(s) from the\u00a0DG CRPF<\/a>.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The valour and gallant actions of CoBRA has been recognised and the unit has been decorated with multiple\u00a0Gallantry<\/a>\u00a0medals including –<\/p>\nBackground<\/h2>\n