Indian Army showcases new Bhairav Battalion unit, a new Light Commando Combat Force

The 6th Bhairav unit was showcased to Eastern Command in Kolkata, while the national capital saw the debut of the 4 Bhairav Battalion of the Sikh Light Infantry Regiment.

Under the winter sun on Kolkata’s Red Road, a new kind of Indian soldier stepped into public view, marking a shift in the Army’s evolving combat strategy. 
It was the first public appearance of the Army’s new “light commando” force, built for future battlefields. Dressed in operational battle gear instead of ceremonial dress, the troops marched in a “Phased Battle Array Formation,” designed to resemble real combat movement, beginning with reconnaissance and followed by heavy support elements.

Bridging The Tactical Gap

For years, the Indian Army has relied on large Infantry Battalions to hold ground and elite Para Special Forces for covert missions. Modern border tensions and grey-zone conflicts, however, have created the need for a middle-tier force. The Bhairav units fill that role. Each formation has about 250 highly trained soldiers, making them quicker to deploy and more agile in difficult terrain. Designed to “fight tonight,” these units can respond to threats within hours, not days.

‘Sons of the Soil’

Inspired by “Bhairav,” a fierce form of Lord Shiva, the units reflect controlled aggression and the ‘Sant Sipahi’ ethos. Recruitment under a “Sons of the Soil” concept enhances local terrain knowledge. 

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Each unit also integrates drone operators, Signals experts, Air Defence personnel, and artillery specialists, giving commanders surveillance, communication and strike capabilities in one compact force.