OCTOPUS Counter Terrorist Unit Relocates to Greyhounds Campus in Gandipet

The Hyderabad police department has approved the relocation of the training and operational headquarters of the Organization for Counter Terrorist Operations (OCTOPUS) from Ibrahimpatnam to the Greyhounds campus in Gandipet. The move is designed to enhance the state's counter-terrorism preparedness and ensure quicker response times to potential urban threats.

By moving to Gandipet, the elite special commando force will be positioned to reach high-value targets in Cyberabad and Hyderabad within an estimated 15 to 45 minutes. Officials stated that the relocation aligns the force with the contemporary urban threat environment and provides a more realistic training setup.

The new location at Gandipet will allow OCTOPUS commandos to train in environments representative of commercial areas, residential neighborhoods, transportation facilities, and government complexes. This proximity will enable more frequent and efficient mock exercises close to high-value areas, while also improving the commandos' familiarity with urban terrain.

The transition will not leave the existing Ibrahimpatnam facility vacant. Established in 2007, the Ibrahimpatnam training infrastructure will continue to be utilized for special courses, refresher courses, and training programs. These programs will serve other state police forces, IPS probationers, and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel.

According to officials, the relocation will also foster seamless inter-agency synergy with law and order, traffic, intelligence, and allied departments. Operating from the same campus will bring greater coordination between OCTOPUS and Greyhounds, the state's elite anti-Naxal commando force which was established in 1989.

Financially, the move is highly efficient. The Greyhounds campus in Gandipet already features adequate space and administrative facilities to accommodate both forces, including barracks for bachelor commandos and family quarters. Because most of the required training infrastructure is already in use by Greyhounds, minimal additional expenditure is expected, which will be covered by the unit's existing budget.

Additionally, the Gandipet location offers logistical advantages such as better access to equipment suppliers and maintenance services, leading to fuel savings and faster administrative processing. It also improves access to healthcare, education, housing, and public transport for commandos and their families, which officials expect will boost morale and retention.