Ghatak Units, or Ghatak Commandos, are elite infantry platoons attached to each infantry battalion of the Indian Army. There is one platoon of these soldiers in every battalion. Ghatak literally means "Killer" or "Lethal" in Hindi.
Contents |
Their role is to act as shock troops and conduct assaults against enemy positions, with or without support from the rest of the battalion. Their objectives range from short range reconnaissance, combat patrol, search and destroy missions, ambushes, designating targets for artillery and air raids to contact skirmishing, destruction of enemy machine gun nests, artillery posts, urban strongholds and bunkers. During the Kargil War, Ghatak Forces led the assaults on enemy units to retake the mountain peaks.
These units act in furthering the tactical and strategic objectives of the battalion. Therefore, their missions are set at the discretion of the battalion commander.
A Ghatak Platoon is usually 20-men strong, consisting of a commanding Captain, 2 non-commissioned officers and some special teams like sharpshooter / marksman and spotter pairs, light machine gunners and radio operator The remaining soldiers act as assault troopers.
These soldiers go through the Commando Training Course in Belgaum, Karnataka. Often, other specialized training like heliborne assault, rock climbing, mountain warfare, demolitions, advanced weapons training, close quarter battle and infantry tactics are also given. Certain units and operators are sent to Counterinsurgency and Jungle Warfare School school as well. However, most of them are not parachute qualified or trained in special warfare.
The unit is equipped with the Tavor TAR-21, INSAS or a version of the AK-47 as their primary assault rifle. The marksmen are equipped with the Vidhwansak Dragunov SVD rifle and Heckler & Koch MSG-90 sniper rifles. They wear standard issue camouflage and body armour, and also the Commando patch on their shoulder once they have finished their training. Depending on the mission, they may carry other items like ropes, climbing gear, grenades, rocket launchers, laser target designators and night vision equipment.
Currently, the Indian Army is upgrading the equipment of these units by procuring lighter body armour, personal communication sets, anti-materiel rifles and various other mission specific equipment.
Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav of 18 Grenadiers was a part of the Ghatak Commando platoon during the action on Tiger Hill in the Kargil War, for which he was awarded the Param Vir Chakra.