HISTORY OF SPECIAL ARMED POLICE

Special armed Police Battalion is the second Armed Police Battalion of the Kerala State. The second Battalion of the SAP was formed on 1958 and was specially selected and deputed to Nagaland to fight insurgency. The Battalion remained in Nagaland for more than 3 years and its commendable work in suppressing insurgencies and terrorist activities were applauded by the Government and public at large. A memento received from the Nagaland authorities for their remarkable service is being kept in the Battalion HQ. Sri. Kailasa Nathan was the first Commandant of the SAP Battalion.

When the Government of India established the Central Reserve Police, it was decided to dismiss the secondary units of the MSP and the SAP in the state. The agitation of a section of the second Battalion of the Kerala Special Armed Police in 1968 and the changes that took place in the Police Department following this are the important events. In 1962, when National Emergency was declared in connection with the Chinese aggression several state governments reorganized their armed Police units as India Reserve Battalion. Expenses for the formation of these Battalions were met by the Central Government. It was formed to preserve the civil security of the country. Thus in 1962 according to the order of the Kerala Government, the second Battalion was formed. Modelled on the Central Reserve Battalion, the unit had 971 members including ministerial staff. In addition to this there were employees like hospital staff and camp followers. Majority of the Officers were directly recruited. Rest of them were appointed on deputation or from the SAP. The Force was sent to Nagaland in 1966. They got wireless instruments and different weapons under loan from the Army unit of the Government of Nagaland.
Maintaining the India Reserve Battalion which has different functions in the same region posed problems for the Government and the authorities concerned. Hence the Government of India decided to merge the India Reserve Battalion in the Central Reserve Police in order to give uniformity to their functions. In January 1967 the Government of India completed the dissolution of the India Reserve Battalion with the Central Reserve Police. The opinion of the State Governments about the dissolution was invited. As a result of this, it was decided to merge the senior Police Officers in the first Battalion of the SAP and to maintain the rest in the Central Reserve Police if they so desire. It was also decided to dismiss those who do not belong to either this as they return from Nagaland. Those who suffered dismissal or demotion were given a chance to continue in the CRP. The majority disagreed to this decision. 897 including officers of the total 971 members expressed disagreement. The Police Officers who were recruited directly argued that they were appointed to the Kerala Police with definite appointment orders and hence they could not be insisted to join the CRP. They wanted to return to Kerala. These developments took place in May 1968. On 26th May, the A- Company of the Battalion was ordered to go to the Bible Hill in forward area for duty. But the Company disagreed. As a result the Military officials exempted that Company from all duties. The members of the Battalion did not remain passive. They decided to evolve methods of agitation. Reports of disobedience spread everywhere. The authorities of the department insisted on disciplinary actions against those who showed disobedience. Steps were taken to dismiss the members of the Battalion other than A- Company. The members were firm in their strike. A Superintendent of Kerala Police visited Nagaland to examine the situation. But it was in vain. Soon all those who did not want to join the CRP were sent back to Kerala. By September 1968 disciplinary actions against 694 men were complete. Those who disobeyed were dismissed from service. Those who were dismissed started agitation demanding that they should be appointed in other sections. They started 'Sathyagraha'at the Secretariat. Some of them went to the court but without any success. As the Government took a humanitarian stand, majority of them got appointed in various departments according to their educational qualifications.