OCTOPUS fine-tunes tactics after studying 18 simulated exercises

Tactics of Telangana’s elite anti-terrorist unit OCTOPUS reviewed at a meeting held in Ibrahimpatnam June 6, 2026 | Photo credit: BY ARRANGEMENT

Telangana Police’s elite counter-terrorism unit OCTOPUS, after conducting 18 mock exercises at vulnerable locations in and around Hyderabad during the first five months of 2026, reviewed and refined its tactics, from room-clearing and hostage-rescue operations to the deployment of specialized equipment.

The review was led by Anil Kumar, DGP (Operations), who oversees OCTOPUS and Greyhounds, at the OCTOPUS Commando Training Center in Ibrahimpatnam on Friday (June 5, 2026). The meeting focused on lessons learned from mock exercises and measures taken to improve operational readiness.

Officials said six SWAT teams conducted the exercise between January and May 2026 at a number of sensitive installations and vulnerable locations. Of the 18 exercises, 13 were performed in the highest category places, one in the middle category place and four in the normal category places.

During the review, the officers examined the observations recorded during the session after each exercise. Special attention was paid to tactical aspects such as searching and clearing rooms, rescue operations, personnel transfers, coordination between teams and the effective deployment of specialized equipment in critical phases of the operation.

Officials discussed deficiencies identified during some of the exercises and corrective actions that have since been incorporated into training protocols. The exercise, police said, was aimed at ensuring commandos are better prepared to respond quickly and effectively during real emergencies, including terrorist attacks and hostage situations.

The review also provided an opportunity for commanders and trainers to assess evolving threats and continually update operational procedures based on field experience gained during the exercise.

Police officials described the process as an important part of maintaining a high level of readiness, with mock exercises not only to test response capabilities but also to identify gaps and strengthen tactics through continuous learning.

The meeting was attended by Training Consultant Bharat Prasad, Superintendent of Police (Administration) M. Venkateswarlu, Additional Superintendent of Police (Operations) Ch. Raghunandan Rao, senior SWAT team officers and members of the training staff.

Published – June 6, 2026 12:25 PM IST